A MAN died when he fell down the stairs after he had been drinking, an inquest was told.

David Crompton, aged 48, was found in his Winter Hey Lane flat in Horwich on October 24 last year.

His body was found when relatives became concerned after he did not answer his door. A neighbour, Angel Wharton-James called the police when she saw that his bin had not been emptied.

Police forced their way into the flat and found Mr Crompton's body slumped at the bottom of the stairs.

Pathologist Dr David Bisset explained that the fall, which -- as Mr Crompton was found to have been three and a half times over the alcohol driving limit -- was most likely to have been due to alcohol intoxication, had left Mr Crompton's body in an awkward position, preventing breathing.

Injuries sustained from the fall itself were fractured ribs and bruising to the head.

Coroner Jennifer Leeming recorded a verdict of accidental death.