ALTHOUGH they had divorced, a woman nursed her ex-husband after he became ill. But following a disagreement she was found collapsed in the house with empty pill bottles beside her, an inquest was told.

Melita Barlow, of Rockbridge Fold, Whitewell Bottom, died in Burnley General Hospital on March 24.

Son Bohuslav Barlow told Coroner David Smith that his mother had been a nurse most of her life.

She was divorced from his step-father about 15 years ago. About two months ago he left following a disagreement. Although it was not the first time he had left she became upset. On March 19 his sister Rita Lyth found her unconscious. About 50 tablets were missing from the bottle.

Following admission to Burnley General Hospital her condition seemed to improve but then deteriorated until her death on Saturday.

The inquest was adjourned to a date to be fixed.