A FORMER heroin addict who was found lying dead in his bedroom by his sister died of natural causes, an inquest heard.

Coroner Michael Singleton said he was unable to establish for certain the cause of death in the case of Brian Norris, 26, of Padiham Road, Sabden.

Mr Norris was found lying face down on his bed on the morning of March 28. Paramedics were called but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

His sister Melissa Taylor, whose house he was living at, said her brother had come to live with her three years ago suffering from heroin addiction.

The inquest was told that on the night before his death he had arrived home and was slurring his words.

His sister said that she thought he was drunk but he told her he had just been smoking cannabis.

Mrs Taylor stressed that since a case of drug-induced pneumonia two years ago her brother had stayed away from drugs and she had got him help to deal with his problems.

She said: "I controlled his medication but when he felt they weren't working, sometimes he took more than he should have."

The inquest heard that there were no traces of alcohol or Class A drugs in Mr Norris' system at the time of death.

Mr Singleton said: "I feel that I have failed in that what I wanted to do was provide answers as to why he died and whether it could have been avoided.

"We have been unable to provide these answers."

He urged the family to be checked up by their GP to make sure it was an isolated incident and had no genetic connections.

A verdict of death by natural causes was recorded.