THE family of a 35-year-old man, who died after brawling with another man outside his home, said they have been left with more questions than answers after a Bolton coroner recorded an open verdict.

Craig Wolfenden died 16 hours after a fight outside his home in Bromwich Street, The Haulgh, 16 months ago.

The fight started after a friend of Mr Wolfenden, prostitute Zoe Taylor, had brought a customer, Alkesh Patel, round to his home.

Ms Taylor had left Mr Patel, who had paid £30 for sex, outside the flat and asked Mr Wolfenden to get rid of him.

Mr Patel told the inquest at a previous hearing that he punched Mr Wolfenden in the ribs and face "a few times".

They both then fell to the ground. Mr Wolfenden was unconscious but soon came round. He was helped back to his flat where Mr Wolfenden apologised for his actions.

An ambulance was called after Mr Wolfenden started to vomit. Ambulance crew and Royal Bolton Hospital staff tried to resuscitate him but failed.

Forensic pathologist Dr John Rutherford said Mr Wolfenden had suffered a fracture across the top of his skull, a haemorrhage and brain swelling.

Dr Rutherford said the injuries to one side of his head were consistent with making contact with the ground but the injury to the other side of his head was only consistent with a stamp, a knee to the head or possibly a shoulder or pelvis in the eventual fall.

Detective Sergeant Michael Fellows told the inquest that the position of the police and the Crown Prosecution Service was that there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

Coroner Jennifer Leeming said that the lack of independent witnesses to the incident, apart from Ms Taylor and Mr Patel, meant that no one would ever know precisely what happened.

She said: "At this present moment in time there is no independent evidence to support either that the injury arose from a deliberate or accidental act."

Speaking after the conclusion, Mr Wolfenden's tearful father Dennis said: "That was the only verdict we could have hoped for.

"But for us this is still not finished.

"We need to find answers as to what caused Craig's death. We hope to find out those answers some day."

The inquest was adjourned in November last year after Ms Leeming issued a warrant for the arrest of Ms Taylor, who did not attend the original inquest.

Ms Taylor was traced a week later when she turned up at a police station. She has since been questioned by Ms leeming and her evidence tape recorded.

She was not present at yesterday's hearing.