AN open verdict was recorded at an inquest into the death of a man found dead in his town centre flat.

The last hours in the life of Paul Winstanley could not be clearly defined.

The 36-year-old man was found dead at his home in Martlands Buildings in Stanley Street, Tyldesley on July 9 last year.

A post mortem carried out by pathologist Dr David Barker revealed he had a high concentration of methadone in his blood, suggesting he died of a heroin overdose.

Mr Winstanley was a self-confessed drug addict, but prior to his death had almost completed his third attempt at detoxing. He had been an inpatient at Prestwich Hospital until July 1, when he and five others were ejected from the scheme after testing positive for alcohol.

Exact circumstances surrounding Mr Winstanley's death remained uncertain after Coroner Jennifer Leeming heard evidence from his mother Margaret, his brother Mark, Dr Barker, PC Steven Forrest, drug dependency specialist Dr Jack Leech and friend Sharon James -- who was staying at his flat at the time of his death.

Mr Winstanley was discovered collapsed in the hall of his flat by Miss James on the morning of July 9. Police initially treated the death as suspicious and after investigating the scene recovered a syringe which confirmed suspicions that he had died of an overdose. They were then satisfied that there were no suspicious circumstances.

The inquest, held at Leigh Coroner's Court on Monday, attempted to uncover the events directly before his death, but the only witness, Miss James, was unable to recall much of the previous night.

Coroner Leeming concluded: "I know the medical cause of Paul's death, but I have heard no evidence of what happened during his last hours, therefore I can only record an 'open conclusion'."