A WOMAN who went to visit her auntie in a nursing home found her dead, but the staff did not know, an inquest heard.

The Burnley hearing was told how pensioner Edith Watson, of Lyndhurst Road, Burnley, died at Swallow House, Dove Court in Burnley on July 3.

Her son Alan Earnshaw of Horning Crescent, Burnley, said his mother, who was 85, had suffered from heart and mobility problems and wouldn't go out of the house.

She had started to deteriorate over the last month.

On Friday, June 29, she went into Swallow House for some respite care.

She had been having problems with one of her arms for a couple of weeks and in the early hours of July 2 fell out of bed onto the floor.

Mr Earnshaw said he went to see Mrs Watson later that morning.

She had a black eye and a bruised right arm. She was in so much pain she screamed if the arm was touched.

A nurse went and got a cushion from the day room and put it under her arm.

Mr Earnshaw said his mother died the following day. He said: "She was found by her niece when she went to visit.

"The staff were not aware she had died and she went to notify them."

East Lancs Coroner David Smith adjourned the inquest.