A MURDER inquiry was launched after a man's body was found in a Leigh canal, an inquest was told.

A man was arrested in connection with Harry Douglas's death, but no one was charged because of a lack of evidence.

Coroner Aidan Cotter recorded an open verdict on the death of 69-year old-Mr Douglas, whose body was found in the Bridgewater Canal, Leigh.

Mr Cotter concluded he did not know what caused Mr Douglas's death -- even though two post mortem examinations were carried out -- after his body was found on February 19 last year.

Despite having been in the merchant navy for 10 years Mr Douglas, who was a retired chef, was unable to swim.

The inquest at Leigh town hall was told that Sgt Graham Atherton went to the scene following a radio message report.

He said: "It was very dark and cold. The search was carried out by torchlight."

He added there was nothing to suggest suicide or a struggle and there was no debris on the footpath.

Police later investigated allegations that Mr Douglas had been murdered. An arrest was made but it was later considered there was not enough evidence to press charges.

Home office pathologist Dr Charles Wilson said he had been unable to ascertain the cause of death when he conducted a second post mortem examination.

Dr Wilson said Mr Douglas had been suffering from significant natural diseases which could have caused his death at any time.

He had an enlarged heart which was more than one third larger than it should have been for a man of his size and there was blockage to the coronary artery which supplies the blood to heart muscle.

Dr Wilson said: "He had very serious natural disease which could have killed him at any time. Or he could have drowned."

He added the shock of being in cold water could have killed him: "You can be overcome by the cold extremely rapidly -- sometimes within a minute."

Examinations revealed Mr Douglas had two bruises -- one 15 cm along the right chest wall and a 2.5 cm bruise on the tip of the left elbow, but Dr Wilson said these could have been sustained by a fall into the canal.

He said; "There were no other injuries and there was nothing to suggest he had been assaulted. Although I can't exclude entirely the possibility that he was pushed in by an open hand which might not have left marks."

Debra McGarrigan, Mr Douglas' granddaughter said she had seen him two weeks before he died: "He was good at walking. He was always OK when he came to my house although he got nervous in front of strangers. He didn't like water.

"He never talked about taking his own life -- although when my nan died 10 years ago he talked about taking tablets."

She said she had never known him to go anywhere near the canal.

The coroner said he did not know if Mr Douglas had died from natural causes, or an accident and said he could not entirely rule out murder: "There is no evidence that he was murdered. Although it is possible that he was pushed or walked into the canal, I think that it is not very likely." He added police were satisfied it was not murder.