A MAN who helped paint the 'Welcome to Leigh' signs died after suffering from a drugs overdose.

Andrew Cannon, a sign-maker for Wigan Council, was found dead by his wife Anne-marie at home in Tower Grove, Higher Fold.

An inquest at Leigh Town Hall heard how the 35-year-old was a registered drug user and had battled for many against his addiction. He had spent time on methadone and attended rehabilitation courses at an hospital.

During Christmas 1999 and the turn of the year he had appeared to won his fight against drug addiction.

In a statement read out at the hearing, Mrs Cannon said they had returned to normality. But within weeks Mr Cannon began to take drugs again and admitted to his wife he had taken Ecstasy and cocaine.

One night in January his wife returned from her sister's house and was unable to get into their home. She thought Mr Cannon had either gone out or fallen asleep.

The next morning, Sunday, January 23, she returned, and after dislodging a key in the backdoor with her own key, managed to get inside the house.

In the front, first floor bedroom she found her husband, kneeling down, with his head on the floor. Syringes were lying next to him.

A post-mortem examination revealed he had taken a dose of morphine or heroin which could kill.

Acting coroner for Greater Manchester West, Mr Simon Nelson, recorded a verdict of death by misadventure. He added: "Unfortunately this is an all too frequent occurrence."

The Welcome to Leigh signs were erected last year and depict the former Leigh borough coat of arms, coal mines, mills, the canal, Bickershaw brass band and The Journal. The Journal donated £2,000 towards the cost of them being made.