A chronic alcoholic who had drunk a bottle of vodka and "some brandy" every day for 20 years died as a result of liver disease, an inquest was told.

An inquest heard that Janet Dugdale died in her sleep after going to bed appearing "quite normally."

Long-term partner William Parker, who was subject to numerous allegations of assault on Miss Dugdale during their time together, took her a cup of tea in bed the following day but found her unresponsive, the inquest heard Miss Dugdale, 49, of Lambeth Street, Blackburn, had undergone a mastectomy four years earlier after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

She had continued drinking and her GP said she had admitted to him that she had drunk a bottle of vodka and some brandy each day for at least 20 years. He said she had also suffered multiple injuries as a result of alleged assaults by her partner.

The medical cause of death was given as alcoholic fatty liver disease. Coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict of natural causes.