AN addict died from a cocktail of drugs and drink after an impromptu New Year party at his flat, an inquest heard.

Keiron Rhodes, 43, who "liked to enjoy himself", drank heavily and had had a drug habit for 20 years, was found dead in bed by his father on January 4.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said Mr Rhodes died due to a combination of alcohol, the heroin substitute methadone and ecstasy.

The coroner said: "I have no doubt he simply presumed he would have woken up the next morning as usual."

Mr Rhodes' father John told the hearing, at Burnley Magistrates Court, he went to see his son at his flat in Grange Road, Rawtenstall, on January 4. The door was ajar and he went into the bedroom and saw Mr Rhodes lying on his bed.

Mr Rhodes said his son was very cold and he knew he was dead. Mr Rhodes said he had spoken to Keiron on New Year's Day.

He knew his son had taken drugs for 20 years, on and off, and had taken cannabis and crack cocaine.

Keiron had been into a rehabilitation centre and was not supposed to drink but did.

The inquest was told on the night of Saturday, January 1, Keiron had apparently taken some drugs, was sweating, his jaw was drooping and he was drinking cider.

A 16-year-old student said she went to his flat with about eight others.

Most of the people there were under the influence of drugs and some of the lads appeared to have taken ecstasy.

The teenager told the inquest she left at about 4am the next morning.

Mr Rhodes was still sweating, under the influence of drugs and was also drinking a lot.

Home Office pathologist Dr Naomi Carter said an initial examination of Mr Rhodes' body had been carried out and she did a second post mortem examination on January 10, after it was suggested to police somebody laced Mr Rhodes' drink with two ecstasy tablets. Police inquiries proved inconclusive.

Dr Carter said Mr Rhodes' lungs were water-logged, which was common in those on drugs and his liver showed fatty changes, not unusual in people who drank a lot.

The doctor told the hearing Keiron had a very high level of alcohol in his body, about three times the drink-drive level.

There was also methadone not prescribed to him and ecstasy at a range which proves fatal.

Dr Carter said Mr Rhodes died because of a combination of alcohol, methadone and ecstasy.

The ecstasy alone could have killed him but the drink could not. She added there was no evidence of sleeping tablets.