A verdict of misadventure was recorded at an inquest into the death of Bill Greenhough, a freelance photographer and former Picture Editor of the Nottingham Evening Post.

Mr Greenhough, 49, was found dead at the foot of the stairs leading to his flat in Draycott, Derbyshire, by a friend on the morning of July 10.

Derby Coroner's Court heard that Mr Greenhough had 476 mg of alcohol per 100 ml of blood and that the amount of alcohol consumed had caused his death.

Coroner Peter Ashworth was told by friends of Mr Greenhough that his business was going well and he was happy and looking forward to the future.

After doing a couple of hours work at Central Television on Monday July 9 he had spent the afternoon in a pub near his home, reading newspapers and chatting to friends.

Friend Christopher Charlesworth, who was with him from 11am that morning until 6pm - when he walked back from the pub to Mr Greenhough's back door with him - said he had seen him drink four pints and two double whiskies during the afternoon.

Another friend, Karen Lancaster, tried to ring Mr Greenhough on his mobile at about 7pm that night and got no answer. An hour later she tried on his home telephone and again got no answer.

She called at the flat next morning on her way to work and found the back door open. Mr Greenhough was inside lying at the bottom of the stairs to his flat in the clothes he had been wearing the day before. His mobile telephone and keys were with him and there was no evidence that he had been back to the flat upstairs since leaving it the previous morning.

A lot of small, minor bruises were found all over Mr Greenhough's body, but a police investigation found no evidence of a break-in or foul play. The Coroner said it was possible that he had fallen down the stairs, but if he had this had not contributed to his death.

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