RETIRED cook Margaret Harrison died from head injuries after falling into the empty bath at her home in Springfield Bank, Burnley, an inquest was told.

The hearing was told she had been drinking and that probably caused her to lose her balance.

Geoffrey Harrison, of Albion Street, Burnley, said his mother had suffered from an alcohol problem for a long time. She had also been diagnosed as diabetic but didn't take any medication as far as he knew.

He last saw her at 11.30am last Sunday. The next day he was told she had been found dead in the bath.

Maureen Hitchon, of Limestone Towers, Sowerby Bridge, said she visited her sister every Monday to do her shopping. This week she arrived at 10.30am but could not get a reply and could not get in. She went for the warden and they got in through a kitchen window.

She looked through the house and found her sister slumped over the bath with her feet just off the floor. She was dressed and the bath was empty. She was very cold and obviously dead.

Pathologist Dr Abdul Al-Dawoud said the cause of death was a head injury. There was internal bleeding to the front and back of the skull although there was no fracture.

An analysis showed she had drunk the equivalent of seven and a half pints of beer, enough to cause dizziness when walking.

PC Gillian Sherratt said police were satisfied there was no third party involvement.

A neighbour told her it was not the first time Mrs Harrison had fallen into the bath.

East Lancashire Coroner David Smith recorded a verdict of accidental death.

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