POLICE broke into the home of a 59-year-old Rishton woman after neighbours became concerned and found her body on the sofa in front of the fire.

But an inquest heard that her body was so badly decomposed it had not been possible to ascertain the cause of death.

No-one had seen or spoken to Greta Greaves, of Hermitage Street, for a week when the alarm was raised.

Next door neighbour Julie McKinn said she rarely saw Mrs Greaves, who kept herself to herself.

Mrs McKinn had been working through the week but on the Saturday, when she was at home through the day, she became concerned when the curtains were not opened.

Mrs Greaves' son Lee Lewtas, a serving soldier, said he had spoken to his mother the previous Sunday and she had seemed fine.

Dr Richard Prescott said a blood sample had revealed only a moderate amount of alcohol. He said he had been unable to obtain further blood samples to test for other drugs, especially those prescribed to Mrs Greaves for her diabetes.

"The investigation has been severely impeded due to the decomposition," said Dr Prescott.

"On the balance of probabilities I would say it is a natural cause of death, although the exact cause is unascertained."

Deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton recorded a verdict of natural causes.