THE cause of death of a 23-year-old man, whose body was found in a Radcliffe flat, may never be known, an inquest heard.

A post mortem on Stephen Paton revealed the cause as "unascertainable" after his body was found in the flat in Stand Lane.

The hearing was told on Tuesday (Aug 29) that his identity had to be confirmed by means of a watch his mother had bought him as a Christmas present.

Bury District Coroner Mr Barrie Williams adjourned the inquest until a later date for a more detailed examination of the evidence of a witness who discovered Mr Paton in the flat, and the police officer who went to the scene.

Mr Paton's mother Mrs Ann Carling, of Newbiggin-by-the-Sea, Northumberland, provided confirmation of identity. She last spoke to him on August 10, and although he had intended to visit her, he said he would not be going up to Northumberland after all.

His body had been found by an aunt in the flat where he lived alone on August 20 and had been taken to Royal Oldham Hospital for a post mortem. But the condition of the body meant samples could not be taken for toxicological purposes.

However, police were satisfied there was no third party involvement in the death.