A MAN found collapsed at his girlfriend's home died from a lethal combination of drugs and lighter fuel.

A Burnley inquest heard how Paul Pickles had "over experimented," when he took cannabis and amphetamine and "tooted," butane gas.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Acting East Lancs Coroner Richard Taylor said Mr Pickles, 20, had not intended to kill himself .

The hearing was told Mr Pickles died on October 4 at the Cross Skelton Street, Colne, home of girlfriend Ainsley Shepherd.

Miss Shepherd said Mr Pickles had been staying with her for about three weeks. He was asleep downstairs when she saw him on the morning of October 4 and she later went out to Burnley.

She said she came back about 4.45pm and Mr Pickles was apparently collapsed in the doorway of the living room. She tried to rouse him, but without success.

Miss Shepherd said she saw a canister of what she believed to be lighter fuel. She had seen him inhaling gas a couple of days earlier and had told him off.

Miss Shepherd said Mr Pickles, who also smoked cannabis, had told her if she did not want him to inhale gas, he would not do it again.

She told the hearing she went to call a friend for help and the police and an ambulance were called.

Pathologist Dr Zafar Qureshi said samples of blood, urine and from Mr Pickles' stomach contents had been sent for analysis.

It was found he had used cannabis in the last two to three weeks before his death, had taken amphetamine on a recreational basis and inhaled lighter gas. Mr Pickles died from respiratory failure due to the combination of the drugs and butane gas.

A 17-year-old who had been on his way to work said he had been stopped by Miss Shepherd as he walked down Cross Skelton Street and had gone into her house.

The teenager said he saw Mr Pickles on the floor, called the police and was about to give Mr Pickles mouth to mouth resuscitation when the ambulance arrived.

He said Miss Shepherd told him she thought Mr Pickles had been "tooting" gas.