A Bolton man died at his home after hitting his head when under the influence of alcohol.

Bolton Coroners Court heard Stafford Hughes, who was know by his middle name of Paul, was a social drinker but had cut back on his intake and had lost weight.

He had recently moved to a flat on Solent Drive in the town.

Arrangements had been made for brother-in-law Michael Hynds to come round and do some work on the property.

But when he came round in September last year he found him unresponsive in the bathroom.

The 55-year-old man, who worked as a warehouse worker, was pronounced dead by paramedics.

Mr Hynds, appearing at the hearing, spoke about Hughes’s relationship with alcohol.

He said: “He was not a binge drinker.”

He confirmed he had cut down recently and said: “He had lost a bit of weight.”

A toxicology report revealed he was more than two times over the drink drive limit at the time of his death.

The inquest heard he had not been in contact with his GP since 2008 and they had not been able to reach him through letters or telephone calls.

Coroner Steven Teesdale recorded the death as exsanguination, a loss of blood.

He said: “On 12 September he was found in the toilet in an unresponsive condition having suffered a scalp laceration, consistent with a fall under the influence of alcohol, hitting his head on a sharp surface.”

He offered his condolences to Mr Hynds and asked for these to be passed on to Mr Hughes' sister.