THE death of a woman found on the patio of her Horwich home was caused by long term alcohol abuse, a Bolton inquest was told.

Emergency services were called to the home of Valerie Kirkman in Higher Austins Lane on Saturday, May 12, after her partner, Terence Baber, noticed she had turned blue.

The court was told Mrs Kirkman, a retired nurse, had been sunbathing all day on her patio while drinking champagne and whisky.

Mr Baber, who had been watching a football match on television, said she appeared to be asleep when he went out to her.

He said he became concerned when he checked on her again, and saw she was "a weird colour".

Mr Baber, who was unable to get his phone to work, said he asked neighbour Jack Farr to call for an ambulance.

Another neighbour, Alan Perry, was also approached for assistance.

Mr Perry said: "We went out to Mrs Kirkman, who was lying on the patio.

"She was blue and there was a trace of blood from her nostril. The emergency services arrived and she was taken away."

Det Insp Mohammed Shafiq, who led a police investigation, said: "I found a number of empty wine and whisky bottles in the house and a small drinking glass beside Mrs Kirkman's body."

John David Rutherford, Home Office pathologist, said he believed Mrs Kirkman's death to be the result of the accumulated effects of chronic alcohol abuse.

Alan Walsh, deputy coroner, said: "It is very sad that a lady of this age has destroyed her life by alcohol.

"Perhaps she did not appreciate the accumulative effects of alcohol on the body which can lead to a sudden and very sad death."

He recorded a verdict of death as a result of the abuse of alcohol.