A MAN "who had not paid his rent" had lain dead in his Pendle house for several weeks, an inquest heard.

The hearing was told Carl Turner, 36, was only discovered when workmen came to change the locks on his house in Oak Street, Colne, on February 15.

Coroner's officer PC Bob Wilson told the hearing yesterday at Burnley Magistrates' Court, that the workmen had visited the property last Wednesday after Mr Turner had stopped paying his rent.

He added Mr Turner, who had probably been dead since before Christmas, was identified by his estranged wife Jan Turner.

PC Wilson said: "Workmen had gone to change the locks for non-payment of rent when they discovered Mr Turner.

"He had probably been there since well before Christmas."

The inquest was adjourned pending the results of a post mortem examination.