AN alcoholic drowned in the canal as he made his way to the police station because he feared gunmen were targeting him, an inquest heard.

However, it was not known whether Kevin McGough killed himself or drowned by accident in the canal at Barden Lane and Robinson Lane, Burnley, the hearing ruled.

The inquest was told the 27-year-old, of Primet Bridge, Colne, who was a strong swimmer, was pulled from the Leeds and Liverpool Canal on July 28 after people on a barge spotted something sinking in the water.

A statement from his housemate and fellow alcoholic Lee Woods was read out in court.

In it Mr Woods said his friend had received treatment for alcoholism several times but was still drinking.

He added that on July 28 Mr McGough who had not been drinking the previous day because he had no money awoke early and was hallucinating saying men with guns were outside.

Mr Woods said his friend, who had threatened to kill himself four days before, then left the house at 6am saying he was going to the police station to "sort his head out".

Det Sgt Simon Cheyte said police were called to the scene at about 9.45am and there were no suspicious circumstances.

The inquest was told a tracksuit top and a sweater were found on opposite canal bank and DS Cheyte said the sweater was wet through like it had been in the water.

He added that police divers could walk across the canal and he believed Mr McGough could have tried to kill himself and taken the sweater off because it was filling with air preventing him from sinking.

Recording an open verdict East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said: "I have a picture of a young man troubled, hallucinating. I cannot imagine what his state of mind was when he went into the water."