A BANKRUPT Burnley woman was pulled from a canal after taking a lethal cocktail of drink and drugs an inquest heard.

Brenda Hayes, of Brownhead Court, was found in the Leeds and Liverpool canal yards from her home on November 30 last year.

The 58-year-old, who had been married four times, had a history of financial trouble. In 2002 she took out £10,000 without the knowledge of her then husband before declaring herself bankrupt on November 19 last year.

Her daughter, Lynne Nickon, told the court Mrs Hayes had threatened to kill herself before, usually after drinking alcohol.

She was last seen the day before her death, and on November 30 did not answer her morning call made by the community warden. At 1.20pm that day she was found in the canal.

Dr Alexander Howard, consultant pathologist at Burnley General Hospital, told the inquest Mrs Hayes had not been in the water particularly long. The cause of death was the lethal concoction of alcohol and drugs, including paracetamol, anti-depressant paroxetine and sleeping tablet zopiclone, she had taken.

Recording a verdict of suicide, East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said: ""In my judgement this was a deliberate action and she knew what she was doing by taking that concoction of drugs.

"I am forced to say by the evidence that she did take her own life and was aware of her actions."