A MAN found his wife dead in the bath of their family home, an inquest heard.

Joanne Greenhalgh was found by her husband, Kevin, at their Manchester Road house in Kearsley.

A post mortem examination failed to find a cause of death and Bolton's Deputy Coroner Alan Walsh recorded an open verdict.

The inquest on Tuesday heard that Mrs Greenhalgh, aged 43, worked at the council tax office in Bolton Town Hall and was getting ready to visit her friend at Royal Bolton Hospital, who had just given birth.

Mr Greenhalgh said his wife had been asked to be the baby's Godmother: "She was very excited, she was really happy," he said.

She was found at about 5pm on April 15, when Mr Greenhalgh returned from watching a Bolton Wanderers football match in a local pub.

He became worried after he called her and she did not answer.

He found her submerged face down in the bath and shouted for help. Neighbours heard and raised the alarm.

Pathologist Dr Isabelle Hanson said the cause of death was unascertained and that she could find no evidence of either drowning, or death by natural or suspicious causes. Mr Walsh told the family: "It's a great tragedy. I am sorry that we are not able to give you peace of mind."