A 71-year-old man from Worcestershire died after a suspected outbreak of salmonella at an Italian hotel, it has been reported.

Sixteen Britons have been treated in hospital, but the Foreign Office was unable to confirm that the man, identified as Geoffrey Appleyard, from Evesham, had died.

It is believed about 30 British tourists were staying at the Grand Hotel Gardone on Lake Garda, near Brescia, northern Italy, when they fill ill at the weekend.

Reports said Mr Appleyard, who was on holiday with his 74-year-old wife Jean, began complaining of stomach pains a few hours after dinner on Saturday night at the four-star hotel.

Paramedics were called and treated him, but he died in his room. A post-mortem examination was held on Tuesday night.

One health official said: "We think it was some fish that guests had eaten, but we are still working on all theories."

Stephen Anderson, British consul in Milan, was quoted as saying: "We have offered Mrs Appleyard assistance. It is too early to say if her husband's death is directly linked to the incident."

A Foreign Office spokesman in London said: "We are investigating reports of a possible outbreak of salmonella at a hotel on Lake Garda.

"We believe there to be around 30 British nationals involved, with around 16 hospitalised in three different hospitals.

"We are providing consular assistance.We are unable to confirm the death of a British national."