A FORMER shopkeeper died from alcohol poisoning after she drank the equivalent of 12 pints.

Anne Starr, of Nelson Street, Britannia, died on May 12 this year, aged 57.

Burnley Coroner's Court heard how the grandmother ran Anne’s Top Shop in Britannia with her husband, having previously been a machinist at Suttons, Bacup.

But after the couple sold the off licence and Mrs Starr retired, she suffered ill health, became depressed and turned to alcohol.

Her daughter, Louise Hodgson, said:“She became more and more depressed after selling the shop and she began to drink a lot.

“She hid it from us at first, but we knew. But we didn't realise how severe it was at the beginning.”

Mrs Starr suffered a heart attack, later under-going a triple heart by-pass and several stent operations.

Her husband, Jim Starr, said: “Her mood was going down all the time.

“She couldn't do the things she used to do. We used to go walking every day.

“But after 100 yards she had to stop.”

Dr Walid Salman carried out a post mortem on Mrs Starr. He discovered damage to her heart and liver.

He found 469 mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood – six times the legal driving limit – and said the cause of death was acute alcohol poisoning and heart disease.

Mrs Starr's daughter said she encouraged her mum to join a Knit and Natter group because she missed socialising, and sought professional help when Mrs Starr was repeatedly admitted to hospital because of her drinking.

She said: “A detox nurse had come out to see her, but nothing seemed to be done.

“Another detox nurse was due to come out to see her the day after she died.”

Richard Taylor, Coroner for East Lancashire, gave a verdict of accidental death.

He told the family “I feel you did all you possibly could to try to help.

“She was going to be seen the following day, and whether that would have made any difference, we will never know.”