A FORMER Accrington Stanley player has spoken out about the drug problem in Accrington after the death of his son.

An inquest heard that Howard Franks, 31, hanged himself after accusing his partner of having an affair with his brother.

But his dad, former Accrington Stanley player Francis Franks, told the hearing that he believed drugs had played a part in his son's death.

He said: "He was my son and I loved him to bits, but he did have a drug problem and he tried to deal with it.

"We have a great problem with drugs in this town and it needs looking into and not just because of the death of my son."

Lisa Howarth told the inquest that she and Howard Franks had been together for six years and lived at a flat in Burnley Road, Accrington.

On a Friday night in June they had gone to his brother Jason's house where they had all been drinking whisky. She said Howard had fallen asleep and when he woke up began shouting at her and Jason, accusing them of having an affair.

Miss Howarth said an argument started and she left, returned to their flat and then went to a friend's. She drove past the flat on the Sunday and thought she saw Howard at the window but did not return there until Monday.

She said she returned to collect some clothes when she thought Howard would have gone to work.

She said: "I went into the flat, saw Howard near the front of the landing and turned and ran," said Miss Howarth.

"It was only when I got outside I realised he had not followed me or shouted anything. That was strange so I went back and realised he had hanged himself. I have known him to try and hang himself before."

PC Rachael Carberry said Mr Franks was suspended by two belts from a bar placed across the loft hatch. An empty bottle of whisky was found on the floor but tests later showed his blood alcohol to be only slightly over the legal drink drive limit.

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