RETIRED social worker Leslie Barnes died as a result of one of the falls that had blighted his later years.

An inquest heard that Mr Barnes had taken a number of tumbles which had resulted in broken ribs, a broken toe and a damaged hand.

But his final fall, while gardening at his home in Osbaldeston, left him with a blood clot on the brain which ultimately proved fatal.

Mr Barnes, 70, of Abbots Brow, spent five weeks in hospital before dying of pneumonia caused by the head injury.

His wife, Hilary, said doctors had been baffled by Mr Barnes falling.

"Nobody was absolutely sure why he as having this problem," said Mrs Barnes. "They wondered whether it was low blood pressure or perhaps pressure on a nerve. He didn't black out he just lost his balance and fell."

She said that on July 18 Mr Barnes had been doing some gardening and after dinner went out to water some plants.

He was longer than expected and when Mrs Barnes went out she found him lying on the floor with blood coming from his nose.

Mr Barnes suffered a broken wrist, broken hip and injuries to his face. He was taken to Blackburn Royal Infirmary but transferred to Royal Preston Hospital the following day after a scan revealed the blood clot.

The medical cause of death was given as pneumonia as a result of a head injury and coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of accidental death.