A 36-year-old man who struggled with drug abuse for many years was found dead in his house surrounded by snap bags and empty packets of tranquilisers.

On May 21, police went to the Great Harwood home of Martin McAllister, after receiving concerned calls from his parents, who had not heard from him for five days.

An inquest at Preston Coroner's Court heard Mr McAllister's parents became worried after their son failed to show up at their house as planned on May 19.

Coroner James Newman said: "His parents last saw him on May 16 and they expected to see him again on May 19, but he didn't arrive.

"Calls to Martin's phone were not answered and on May 21, the police were contacted and officers attended the property on Hanson Street, forced entry, and found him dead, fully clothed on the bed, surrounded by snap bags and empty blister packs of diazepam."

Mr Newman told the inquest tests found evidence of methadone, pregabalin, gabapentin and metabolised morphine in his system, some of which would have been used to treat his epilepsy and anxiety, from which he also suffered.

He said: "The use of these compounds together would have had a sedative effect and caused respiratory depression.

"Therefore, combined drug toxicity was offered as a medical cause of death."

In a statement from Mr McAllister's neighbour, Bernard Taylor, he said he last saw Mr McAllister on May 18 or 19, when he knocked on his front door and asked if he could borrow some sugar.

Mr Newman continued: "Martin had a history of epilepsy and mental disorders due to opioid dependency.

"He had previous engagement with drug and alcohol services and accessed opiate replacement therapy in November 2019.

"He reported then that he would often smoke £20 worth of heroin and cocaine over two days.

"During the lockdown period he was self-isolating and would only leave the house for food and his daily prescriptions.

"Police attended his home on May 21, but evidence suggested death had occurred some time earlier.

"There was clear evidence of drug misuse - both prescribed and non-prescribed.

"His death was due to an unintended consequence of the consumption of a number of substances and I record a drug-related death conclusion."