AN open verdict was recorded at an inquest into the death of a man found in his town centre apartment.

The last hours in the life of Paul Winstanley could not be clearly defined.

The 36-year-old was found dead at his home in Martlands Buildings on Stanley Street, Tyldesley, on July 9 last year.

A post mortem examination carried out by pathologist Dr David Barker revealed that Mr Winstanley had a high concentration of methadone in his blood, suggesting he died of a heroin overdose. Mr Winstanley was a self-confessed drug addict but, prior to his death, had almost completed his third attempt at detox.

He had been an in-patient at Prestwich Hospital until July 1 last year, when he and five others were ejected from the scheme after testing positive for alcohol.

Exact circumstances surrounding Mr Winstanley's death remained uncertain after coroner Jennifer Leeming heard evidence from his mother, Margaret, his brother Mark, Dr Barker, PC Steven Forrest, drug dependency specialist Dr Jack Leech and friend Sharon James -- who was staying at his flat at the time of his death.

Mr Winstanley was discovered unconscious in the hall of his flat by Miss James on the morning of July 9 last year.

Police initially treated the death as suspicious but, after investigating the scene, recovered a syringe which confirmed suspicions that he had died of an overdose.