A PENSIONER who had taken tamazipam to help her sleep died after inhaling fumes from a fire at her home.

An inquest heard that the blaze at the house in Woodside Road, Huncoat, burned itself out but the fumes had been enough to kill Jean Winder, 70, who was found in a bedroom.

The inquest heard that Mrs Winder had survived two lots of open heart surgery, the latest five years ago, and as a result was prescribed numerous tablets.

Her son, Mark Winder, of Sharples Street, Accrington, said his mother had been taking tamazipam for some time to help her sleep.

Assistant divisional fire officer Christopher Waters said the fire had started in a settee in the living room of the semi-detached dormer bungalow.

His conclusion was that the fire had been started by discarded smoking materials prior to Mrs Winder retiring to bed.

Tests showed that Mrs Winder had five times the normal therapeutic dose of tamazipam in her blood although this was well below the level associated with fatality.

The medical cause of death was given as carbon monoxide and tamazipam toxicity.

Recording a verdict of accidental death coroner Michael Singleton said that while there were no smoke detectors fitted in Mrs Winder's home it was unlikely they would have made any difference in her case.

"However, I would like to take the opportunity of reminding the public just how important they can be in helping people to escape from fires," said Mr Singleton.