A LEIGH woman who frequently complained of headaches died as a result of accidentally taking too many tablets.

An inquest at Leigh heard how Maria Watkins-Wilson, 46, died last June in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

Mrs Watkins-Wilson, a horse-owner who loved showing and competing at equestrian events, had complained of headaches for a year before her death.

Her husband, Philip of Cherry Grove, Leigh, said often the pain lasted for a couple of days and her doctor had said stress and tension were to blame.

In a statement Mr Watkins-Wilson said his wife had taken anadin and paracetamol tablets to ease the pain and had been prescribed other tablets by her doctor.

He said: "A week before she died the doctor came and said he thought she had a stomach ulcer. The day after she couldn't get out of bed.

"The emergency doctor came out and she went to Wigan Infirmary where the doctor said she had a build-up of paracetamol and she was transferred to the liver unit at Birmingham."

Coroner Mr Aidan Cotter said hospital notes suggested the deceased had taken too many paracetamol tablets which had caused multi-organ failure.

He said: "She died as a result of accidentally taking too many tablets." He recorded a verdict of accidental death.