A MARKET superin-tendent died as a result of her excessive use of pain-killing medication.

An inquest heard that Linda Bolton developed a tolerance to the drugs which she had been taking for 20 years.

Prolonged use had affected her liver function, reducing its ability to clear the drugs out of the blood.

It eventually led to a build-up which proved fatal.

Dr Mohammed Aslam, who carried out a post-mortem examination, said numerous drugs had been identified in Mrs Bolton's system.

But the main one had been dihydracodeine which was at a fatal level.

He gave the medical cause of death as cardio-respiratory arrest and combined drug toxicity with fatty liver contributing.

The inquest heard that Mrs Bolton, of Stuart Close, Darwen, had severe osteoarthritis in her back and one knee and had become dependent on painkillers.

Husband Michael Bolton added: "She lived off painkillers and would get extra by saying she had lost her prescription or her tablets.

"She was taking three or four different sorts."

Mrs Bolton's son Kurt Bolton said his mum never stuck to her prescription.

"If she ran out and couldn't get them off the doctor she would go out and buy them," he said. "She wouldn't stick to the precription, she would take a concoction.

PC John Moore told the inquest he had recovered 180 dihydracodeine tablets, 36 amitriptolene tablets, three empty packets and an assortment of tablets from around the bedroom where Mrs Bolton had been found.

Recording a verdict of misadventure, coroner Michael Singleton said people being prescribed drugs over a long period needed to be extremely careful.