A MAN had shown a careless disregard for his safety by taking drugs and alcohol, an inquest heard.

Bury district coroner Barrie Williams, recording a verdict of accidental death on John Lysons, said he had chosen a lifestyle which his system could not cope with.

Members of Mr Lysons's family said they were mystified that he had never gone to his new flat in Bury, but had been found dead in a Salvation Army hostel in Rochdale.

Mrs Susan Marsh, of Carno, Powys, told the coroner that her brother, aged 53 and a former soldier, had abused drugs for a number of years but had obtained medical help. She last heard from him at an address in Walmersley Road, Bury, last July when he was "bouncy and positive".

A post-mortem examination found that Mr Lysons had choked on his own vomit as a result of the high level of drugs and alcohol in his body. Police had charged two men with supplying drugs following his death, the inquest was told.

Police had charged two men with supplying drugs, but officers said the evidence did not support charges which suggested they had directly caused Mr Lysons' death.