AN active pensioner's health went downhill after a town centre fall as he did his shopping.

A Burnley inquest was told how Patrick Brien, 85, had previously enjoyed walking his dog, but gradually became less and less active.

Acting East Lancs Coroner Richard Taylor recorded a verdict of accidental death on Mr Brien, who had a fit just before he died, and said the deterioration in his health started with the fall.

The hearing, at Burnley Magistrates' Court, was told how Mr Brien, who lived with his son Michael at Castlerigg Drive, Burnley, died in hospital on March 8.

Pathologist Dr Zuhair Twaij, who performed a post mortem examination three days later, said Mr Brien, who had had a number of falls, had inflammation of the lung tissue and died of bronchial pnuemonia and subdural haemorrhage.

Michael Brien said his father had been very fit and active and did not look his age.

Last November, he had been going up the escalator into Burnley market when he fell. His father did not know exactly what had happened but he went backwards, tumbled down the escalator and spent three days in hospital.

When he returned home he was his normal self, took the dog for a walk and did not complain of feeling ill.

Mr Brien said at around Christmas time, his father gradually started to stay in his chair instead of going out.

He did not want to go out for Christmas dinner, but gave no reason except he just did not feel like it.

On December 29, Mr Brien said he found his father slumped against the wall after he had gone to the toilet. He rang an ambulance, Mr Brien was taken to hospital and never returned home.

Mr Brien said his father started to get very confused in hospital, wondering where he was. His father was taken to hospital in Preston for a CT scan, then sent back to Burnley.

Mr Brien said when his father came back from Preston, he seemed all right for two or three days, but then had a major fit and never recovered.