A YOUNG mum died after falling down the stairs at her home, a Bolton inquest heard.

Melissa Bertham, aged 21, lost her balance and fell backwards, hitting her head. She died at Salford Royal Hospital on November 17 last year.

Miss Bertham had a son, aged six, who lives with her father, and a daughter who died previously.

Miss Bertham had been at her home in Fifth Avenue, Little Lever, on the night of November 13 with her partner, David Kay.

She followed Mr Kay upstairs but fell backwards from the third or fourth step.

The inquest was told she may have hit her head on a bolt on the front door of the house.

Neighbours gave written evidence to the inquest, which was read out by the coroner.

Angela Perry said in her statement that she used to see Miss Bertham buying alcohol from local shops.

She said that on the night of the fall, Mr Kay ran to her house, asking for help.

"He stood there with his arms out. There was blood on his arms and hands. He said I need help, I need an ambulance'."

Mrs Perry said she rushed to Miss Bertham's house.

She said: "There was blood coming from her head and I could smell alcohol on her."

Mrs Perry stayed with her until the ambulance arrived and took Miss Bertham to the Royal Bolton Hospital.

She was transferred to Salford Royal Hospital a few hours later.

Doctors operated twice to try to save Miss Bertham but they were unable to stop the bleeding in her brain and she died from her injuries a few days later.

Dr Daniel du Plessis, a pathologist at the Royal Salford Hospital, who carried out a postmortem examination on Miss Bertham's body, told the hearing: "She had at least a moderate level of alcohol intake.

"I was also told she had taken temazepam, which would amplify the effects of alcohol."

He said Miss Bertham had died from bleeding in her brain due to a head injury sustained from a blunt force, which he said was consistent with a fall on the stairs.

Det Sgt Martin Bell, of Bolton CID, said the police had investigated the incident and there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Miss Bertham's death.

Coroner Jennifer Leeming recorded a verdict of accidental death.