A SEVEN-year-old girl who discovered her mum collapsed on the floor of their Darwen home ran one and a half miles to her grandma's home to raise the alarm, an inquest heard.

The hearing was told that by the time Leslie Ewen's mum and brother arrived she was already dead as a result of a cocktail of prescribed medicine and alcohol.

But family and friends said the 26-year-old was a devoted mother who lived for her daughter and who had never given any indication that she would harm herself.

Coroner Michael Singleton recorded an open verdict after hearing that she was not depressed and would not have done anything while her daughter was in the house.

Leslie, of Two Gates Walk, Darwen, was said to be excited about organising a birthday party for her dad and going to a christening just two days after she died.

Her mum, Ruby Ewen said she there was a knock on her door at 7.15am on October 19 and she opened it to find seven-year-old Clara.

"She said her mum was poorly and lying on the floor," said Mrs Ewen.

She phoned her son, James, and he picked her up and drove to Leslie's home where she was later pronounced dead.

Mrs Ewen said she had been shopping with her daughter the day before and she had seemed fine. James, of Quaker Lane, Darwen, said he found his sister lying on the floor on one side of the room and on the other side there was a pile of tablets and an empty can.

He said he and his sister were very close and he would have expected her to be able to talk to him if she had any problems.

Leslie was prescribed clozapine for schizophrenia but James said the illness was well under control and as long as Leslie took her medication she was fine.

"You could tell if she missed one tablet but she was fine," said James.

Asked if he could think of any reason why she would harm herself he said none at all, especially with Clara in the house.

"She lived for my niece," said James.

Toxicology tests revealed the presence of paracetamol, alcohol and clozapine and the medical cause of death was given as the combined effects of all three.

Coroner Michael Singleton said that while it was clear she had consumed all three he had to ask himself what her intentions where.

"It seems that the quantities of tablets taken were such that there must be a serious concern that Leslie Ewen intended to take her own life, it would be difficult to conclude that this was an accident," said Mr Singleton.

"However, in order to reach a verdict of suicide I would have to be sure beyond a reasonable doubt.

"I have heard evidence that there was nothing to suggest that Leslie was in any way depressed and that she would not have done anything while her daughter was in the house.

"These matters raise some doubt in my mind as to what her intentions were and I have no alternative but to return an open verdict," he added.