AN inquest into the death of Gillian Haworth was dramatically halted after her boyfriend accused a witness of lying.

Thomas Kearsley demanded that Mark Beagley, whose statement had been read to the inquest in his absence, should be present to give his evidence.

"I don't believe him, he's a liar," said Mr Kearsley, of Preston New Road, Blackburn. "Has he got something to hide?"

Deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton ruled that Mr Kearsley was not an interested party in the legal sense of an inquest and was therefore not entitled to object to the statement being admitted as evidence.

But his objections were supported by the dead woman's brother, David Haworth, and the inquest was adjourned so that Mr Beagley could be summoned to attend.

The inquest heard that Miss Haworth, 41, of Skye Crescent, rarely left her home. On the day of her death Mr Beagley had been called by a 14-year-old youth who was worried about her.

Mr Beagley, who also lives in Skye Crescent, went round and found Miss Haworth unwell. He thought she might have been having a fit and called an ambulance.

Paramedics treated her at her home before taking her away. She died later that day.