Mr Frank Charlie Heyworth (85) was found at his home in Birtwistle Fold sheltered housing, Colne, on January 4th and was pronounced dead at the scene.

His son, Mr Stephen Heyworth, told East Lancashire Coroner Mr Richard Taylor his father started to become confused at the end of his life, and had trouble remembering when to take his pills.

He said: "He was fairly mobile but not so much in the few weeks before his death. He went downhill quite a bit. He had a fall and seemed very confused."

Mr Heyworth's medication was changed and he had to begin taking pills twice a day, rather than four times, which his son said was hard for him to get used to and added he could have taken too many by mistake.

Dr Zuhair Twaij, consultant pathologist at Burnley General Hospital, who performed the post-mortem examination, said he found high levels of the drug temazepam and an anti-anxiety drug in Mr Heyworth's body which led to his death.

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Taylor said: "I have no doubt at all that what has happened here is that your father had become increasingly confused. He was used to taking medication four times a day and it appears he got confused as to how much he could and couldn't take and, sadly, that proved fatal."