A WOMAN found at the foot of the stairs at her home in Branch Road, Burnley, died from head injuries including a skull fracture and brain damage.

An inquest was told that Jacqueline Davies, 55, who was found dead on January 8, had suffered previous injuries as a result of falls due to drinking.

Dr Zuhair Twiaj told East Lancashire Coroner David Smith that injuries revealed at a post mortem examination were consistent with a fall.

Analysis revealed that she had drunk the equivalent of five pints of beer some time earlier. The level in her blood was small, only about one third of a pint.

He told her brother Robert Mowle she had definitely not suffered a heart attack.

PC Emma Louise Ball said police were satisfied there were no suspicious circumstances. The house was secured and in a neat and tidy condition.

Recording an open verdict Mr Smith said police had carried out a thorough investigation and there was no evidence at all of any third party involvement.

It was most probably from the evidence that she had fallen down stairs but they did not know how exactly she had come to be in that position.