A man whose wife died of an accidental overdose of paracetamol has called for clearer warnings on cold remedies.

An inquest heard yesterday that 72-year-old Molly Cripps died after taking capsules of Lemsip Max cold relief as well as her prescribed paracetamol.

After the hearing, Mrs Cripps's husband Jack urged people to read the labels carefully and called for large warnings about the dangers of paracetamol overdose to be printed on the front of packets.

And the coroner said he would be writing to the makers of Lemsip urging them to print clearer warnings on their product. His call has been backed by Mrs Cripps's MP Chris Leslie who said he would ask the Department of Health to consider the coroner's recommendations.

At yesterday's hearing, which recorded a verdict of accidental death, Deputy Bradford Coroner Mark Hinchcliffe said the fact that the cold and flu remedy contained potentially dangerous amounts of paracetamol was not obvious enough.

The hearing heard that Mrs Cripps, of Glenwood Avenue, Baildon, started taking about six Lemsip Max capsules a day because she had a cold. But the fact that she was already taking eight prescribed paracetamol a day made it a fatal amount and she died at Bradford Royal Infirmary on April 17.

Mr Cripps, 81, said: "Molly knew too much paracetamol was dangerous but she did not realise there was paracetamol in Lemsip. If you go into a chemist and ask for something, the first thing they ask is if you are taking any medication. But if you go into a supermarket, there is no proper dispensary counter and the people at the check-out don't know anything about it.

"If it's something serious it should be in bigger writing. You need a magnifying glass to see some of the writing."

The couple were due to celebrate their 55th wedding anniversary in September.

"My wife was a good woman and a good mum and I could not fault her," said Mr Cripps. "We had some very good years together. She was the best mate I ever had and I will miss her."

Mrs Cripps' daughter-in-law Paula, 48, of Midland Road, Baildon, added: "These tablets were bought in a supermarket where no-one tells you that they contain paracetamol. As a family we think that these tablets should only be sold over a pharmacy counter where people are made aware that they contain paracetamol."

The inquest heard that Mrs Cripps was taking the daily dose of paracetamol to ease the pain after her leg was amputated 40 years ago and had been mixing it with the Lemsip Max for about a week - almost doubling her normal dose.

The back of the packet of Lemsip Max capsules states in small print that each capsule contains 500mg of paracetamol and there is a warning on the back in block capital red letters which reads: "Do not take with any other paracetamol containing products" but Mr Hinchcliffe said the writing was too small.

"It is obvious that Mrs Cripps did not see that warning and I report that it is to be found on the back of the box in small writing and there is nothing highlighted on the front cover of the box indicating that it contains paracetamol," he said.

He told the hearing that he was satisfied that Mrs Cripps did not intend to cause her death in this way, adding: "There is therefore a cause for some concern because it's apparent that this elderly lady accidentally took an overdose of paracetamol because she failed to appreciate that the Lemsip Max contained the same amount of paracetamol as the prescribed painkillers."

After the hearing a spokesman for Reckitt Benckiser Healthcare (UK) Limited, which makes the product, said: "There is a warning on the back of the packaging which is in bold in a clear box and it does exceed the regulatory requirements for warnings.

"However, we take this very seriously and we will await Mr Hinchcliffe's letter and consider his views very carefully. We have no record of this ever happening before related to this product."

Shipley MP Mr Leslie, who is junior minister in the Department for Constitutional Affairs, said: "There is probably a deficiency in the labelling of these things and it is worth drawing it to the attention of ministers. I will ask the minister in the Department of Health to ask their officials to look at the coroner's recommendation and to see if there is a need for a review of the labelling of these products.

"My sympathies go to the family at what is a tragedy for them and the very least we should do is to learn some lessons from this tragic case."

Telegraph & Argus medical columnist Dr Tom Smith backed the coroner and called for "even better" warnings on medicines containing paracetamol.

He said: "We have known for many years that to take paracetamol, especially in the elderly, can lead to liver failure which can lead to the sort of death that this poor lady suffered.

"No-one should take more than two paracetamol tablets three times a day. If that's not helping your pain then you need medical help and not just to take other medication.

"I really deplore the selling of paracetamol in a supermarket as everyone taking this quite dangerous drug needs to know from some authority what it can do."

Pharmacology course director from the University of Bradford's School of Pharmacy Simon Tweddell said: "There are lots of medicines on the market that contain paracetamol. It isn't always obvious from the name of the medicine that paracetamol is an ingredient.

"Paracetamol is perfectly safe when used in the correct dose. Medicines should ideally be bought from a community pharmacy where there is a pharmacist available to provide expert advice."

Paracetamol can be taken to relieve mild to moderate pain due to things such as headache, muscle and joint pain, backache and period pains. It is also used to bring down a high temperature.

An overdose of paracetamol causes liver damage that, if not treated quickly, is very dangerous. As little as 10-15g (20-30) tablets taken in one go can be fatal.

In 1998 rules were introduced which stated that analgesics like paracetamol would only be available in genera; stores in packs of 16.

It was brought in to prevent the average 200 accidental deaths and suicides which occurred every year across the country.