A WOMAN who had found happiness the second time around through a dating agency died after inhaling her own vomit.

An inquest heard that Janet Brown, 55, and her new love planned to marry in the near future.

But their dream was shattered when he found her dead on the settee at her home in Earnsdale Avenue, Darwen.

George Adams, of Edge Hill, Liverpool, told the inquest how he had lost his first wife and daughter six years ago when they were killed in a car accident. Six months ago he had registered with Matchmakers dating agency in Chorley and through them met Mrs Brown.

After exchanging several letters they eventually met on a regular basis and Mr Adams would spent most weekends at Mrs Brown's home.

A post mortem examination revealed she had died from the inhalation of gastric contents which was linked to alcohol abuse. There was evidence that Mrs Brown had been a heavy drinker over a long period of time.

That had caused erosion of the stomach lining, such that on this occasion there was excessive internal bleeding.

The blood and alcohol had caused her to vomit but because of the intoxicated state she was in, she was unable to cough and clear her lungs.

Coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of misadventure.