A DRUG addict burnt to death in his bed, an inquest heard on Wednesday.

Unemployed father-of-one Brian Boardman, aged 32, died on May 8 when he became trapped in the ground floor bedroom of a flat at Broadgate House in Armadale Road, Ladybridge.

He had been staying at the flat temporarily with his brother Jonathan, a former priest, while recovering from a stay in hospital where he had been treated for deep vein thrombosis connected to his drug use.

Mr Boardman, who had been a heroin user for many years, was receiving treatment for his addiction at the time of his death and had been prescribed the heroin substitute, methadone.

Fire officers traced the origin of the fire at 6.30pm to a dressing table and found drug taking paraphernalia nearby.

When the fire started Jonathan Boardman and a friend were both asleep in the living room.

Mr Boardman said he was woken by his brother screaming from the bedroom that his legs were on fire.

The two men tried to get into the bedroom but were beaten back by the flames. Mr Boardman was found dead at the scene.

The cause of death was burns and smoke inhalation but there was also fatal levels of methadone and amphetamines. Tests did not reveal the presence of heroin.

Around 30 residents had to be evacuated from the three-storey building

The coroner recorded a verdict of death by misadventure.