AN inquest has opened into the death of a Bury man who walked into a hospital declaring that he had taken an overdose of tablets.

Derek Mullen, aged 63, of Athlone Avenue, Bury, deteriorated in health and was transferred to the intensive care unit of Fairfield General Hospital where he died early on August 17.

Evidence of identification was supplied by his general practitioner because Mr Mullen had reported no next of kin when he admitted himself to hospital.

However, Bury District Coroner Mr Barrie Williams was informed that an appeal for information by his coroner's officer had been successful in tracing Mr Mullen's daughters and his ex-wife, who had not seen Mr Mullen for 20 years.

Following a post-mortem, samples were obtained and sent for laboratory analysis. Mr Williams adjourned the hearing for the outcome of those tests.