A MAN died after he fell 25 foot from a ladder as he tried to help his neighbour.

Maurice Bowker, aged 52, slipped as he was attempting to climb through a first floor bedroom window of his neighbour's home after the family had locked themselves out. The self-employed electrical repairer, of Bolton Road, Farnworth, died from severe head injuries six days later. He had been transferred to the neuro surgical unit at Salford's Hope Hospital from the Royal Bolton Hospital.

And at an inquest yesterday Bolton coroner Aidan Cotter recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The accident happened on October 17 last year outside the Bolton Road shop he and his wife, Marilyn, had run for 23 years.

His wife, aged 49, told the inquest that her husband had been approached by the neighbour, Umar Hyatt, who asked him to climb through an upstairs bedroom window as he was locked out.

Mrs Bowker said they had known Mr Hyatt for about 20 years and despite him sometimes struggling with English, he had always popped into their shop for a chat.

Mr Hyatt said Mr Bowker had climbed up a metal ladder in his backyard before trying to reach into the bedroom window. He fell back, hitting his head on the ground. It remains unclear as to how Mr Bowker lost his footing and fell.