A CORONER has recorded an open verdict after an 83-year-old Leigh woman died from a drugs overdose.

Spinster Eileen Scully, a resident at County Palatine Housing Society home at Brideoake House, Widdow Street, was found collapsed on her bed by a fellow resident on June 2 last year.

An inquest at Leigh Town Hall heard a post mortem examination later found she had 929 millitres of aspirin per litre of blood -- enough to kill her.

Miss Scully had overdosed on paracetamol in the past and had also wandered downstairs from her room with plastic bags tied around her neck.

Assistant house manager Bernadette Bridge said all the 19 residents were free to go shopping alone and Miss Scully had probably bought aspirins at a local chemist's shop.

Miss Scully had also been pulled from a canal after falling in when she went for a late night walk.

The spinster later told care workers she had slipped and fallen in.

However on other occasions, Miss Scully had told workers at the home that she had wanted to die.

Mrs Bridge told the inquest that after she had found Miss Scully with the plastic bags around her neck, the pensioner said she had "nothing to live for".

Summing up, coroner Aidan Cotter said he was not convinced that Miss Scully had intended to take her own life, adding: "She had been rescued three times before and she may well have thought she would be rescued again."