A 42-YEAR-OLD Nelson woman died after taking a combination of prescription pills.

Gail Holden who had been staying with her friend Theodore Jolly, of Netherfield Road, died on December 24.

Mr Jolly, who was accused of killing Miss Holden by a female friend who was at the inquest in Burnley, said: "I worshipped that girl."

He confirmed to Acting East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor that he had known Miss Holden for more than 30 years and was well aware that she took a variety of drugs prescribed by her doctor and she was a known alcoholic.

On the day she died he said he had tried to get someone from the health centre in Leeds Road, Nelson, to come and see her.

He said her breathing was bad and he was advised to call an ambulance.

Mr Jolly said: "She would try to take her pills altogether and I said she was going to kill herself."

Pathologist Dr Zafar Qureshi said samples had been sent away for analysis which showed she had taken painkillers, anti-depressants and sleeping pills and the combined effect of all three had led to her death.

Recording a verdict of accidental death Mr Taylor said: "What has been clear from the police investigation and from the medical examination was that she was prescribed a number of different pills and she had her own problems.

"Unfortunately together these three drugs proved fatal."