A 46-YEAR-OLD man died after taking a fatal overdose of heroin, an inquest has heard.

Paul Warburton, from Burnley, was found dead at his home on January 10 this year.

A friend had grown concerned for his welfare and had not seen or heard from him for a number of days.

His friend believed him to be a heroin user, the hearing in Preston heard.

Police were contacted and attended Mr Warburton’s home address in Hunslet Street.

When police arrived, they found his home locked and secured and forced their way into the property.

Police then searched the house and found Mr Warburton dead in the rear bedroom.

The inquest heard that police discovered drug paraphernalia and empty alcohol bottles.

Pathologist Dr Al Mudaffer said the cause of Mr Warburton’s death was central nervous and respiratory system depression through heroin use.

A toxicology showed Mr Warburton had total blood morphine levels within the range encountered in fatalities.

Concluding, assistant coroner Richard Taylor, said Mr Warburton’s death was ‘drug-related’.

He said: “It’s not possible to say exactly when he died.

“So I record that Mr Warburton was found dead at his home in Hunslet Street, Burnley on January 10 this year having ingested an excess of heroin.”