A widowed pensioner died after falling down a flight of stairs at her home, an inquest held in Trowbridge today heard.

Margaret Alford, 77, was found dead at the foot of her stairs at her home in Chapel Lane, Neston, on November 28 last year. One of her slippers had been found at the top of the flight

Mrs Alford, who had lost her husband in January 2005. had relied on friends for support.

Her body was found by neighbour Frances Tristram after a Link driver, who had come to pick up Mrs Alford to take her to her doctors’ surgery, had been unable to get any response.

Mrs Alford’s body was found with her phone, which was off the hook, and a post mortem examination revealed she had died after contracting bronchial pneumonia following the fall.

Mrs Tristram told the court how Mrs Alford had often become low when she and her husband weren’t around and had enjoyed the odd drink of whiskey.

Tests showed she was two-times over the drink-drive limit at the time of her death.

Mrs Tristram said: “She had become frailer and slightly more anxious about everything. She had osteoporosis very badly and she had tripped occasionally and had fallen on a couple of occasions.”

PC Mike Moss from Corsham police, the investigating officer, said handprints had been found near to Mrs Alford’s body.

He said: “There were handprints in the hallway and into the lounge so it was possible she was conscious.

“I think she may have been trying to use the phone rather than colliding with it when she fell.”

Verdict: accident