A 53-year-old Rossendale woman died in hospital after falling down "very steep" stairs in her home, a Burnley inquest heard.

Margaret Taylor, of Haslingden Road, Rawtenstall, was found naked at the bottom of the stairs on July 9 by her partner Stephen Lister. She was taken to a Bury hospital and transferred to a hospital in Stockport where she died.

Home Office pathologist Dr William Lawler said she suffered extensive injuries to the back of her head, including a fracture.

The injuries were consistent with a fall down several stairs. He was aware she had a history of falling asleep at unexplained and inappropriate times which could be a manifestation of a variant seizure.

He said it was possible that could have been a factor in causing her to fall.

Mr Lister had gone up to bed first and fallen asleep. When he woke in the middle of the night, Miss Taylor was not in bed and as he walked across the landing he heard gurgling noises from the bottom of the stairs.

He found Miss Taylor at the bottom of the stairs and her clothes were found in the second bedroom upstairs where she would normally get undressed.

Detective Inspector Ron Griffiths said: "The stairs were very steep to such an extent I had difficulty going up and down them myself. On a number of them it was noted that the carpet had worn."

East Lancashire coroner David Smith recorded a verdict of an accidental death.

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