A MAN may have been lying dead for at least a week at the home where he lived alone, an inquest was told.

Neighbour Raymond Bottle found the body of Paul Kerr, 41, on an upstairs bed at the house in Moorside, near Consett, County Durham, on Monday last week.

Mr Bottle was alerted by another neighbour, who became concerned when eight pints of milk accumulated on the doorstep of the house, in Lincoln Place.

Pathologist Dr Paul Barrett told the hearing, in Durham City, there were no signs of anything suspicious.

He added that there was a history of Mr Kerr, a diabetic, overdosing on insulin, while he also had a drink problem.

North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle said while nothing "untoward" seemed to have taken place, a mix of insulin and alcohol may have been involved. But because the cause of death could not be ascertained, his only option was to record an open verdict