A coroner has issued a warning after a man died in the bath after drinking, an inquest has heard. 

George Rodgers, 58, of Golden Flatts on Ripon Close in Hartlepool, was found unresponsive in the bath at the property on July 16 last year.

At an inquest into Mr Rodgers' death, held on Tuesday (July 30) at Teesside Coroner's Court in Middlesbrough, it was heard that toxicology reports showed that the 58-year-old had drank alcohol that would have placed him three times over the drink-drive limit. 

Assistant Coroner Karin Welsh noted Mr Rodgers' death as alcohol-related and warned that the level of alcohol and the heat of the bath had caused his death.

She said: "Given the circumstances, the combination of the hot bath and that level of alcohol have combined to his death. My condolences to his family."