A LETHAL mix of painkillers and alcohol killed father-of-one Paul Walsh.

The 51-year-old Ainsworth man's body was discovered on a park bench in Kay Gardens on September 7 last year.

Bury student Andrew Fitzsimmons was walking through the town centre on the evening of September 6 when he noticed a man lying down on a bench and believed him to be sleeping.

At 5am the following day, Mr Fitzsimmons saw the man in the same position. He approached the figure but was unable to find a pulse.

A post mortem revealed the divorcee died from toxic poisoning as a result of consuming prescribed painkillers and alcohol.

An inquest heard he had been taking painkillers to cope with injuries sustained as a pedestrian in two separate road traffic accidents in the 1980s.

The accidents were the catalysts for Mr Walsh, of Church Street, turning to drink and becoming an alcoholic.

Andrew Walsh said his brother had managed to stay off alcohol for seven years but started drinking again six months before his death.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, coroner Barrie Williams said Mr Walsh had disregarded the risks of his lifestyle and was not expecting the consequences of consuming alcohol and drugs to be fatal.