Christopher Lee (52), of 4 Checker Street, Lynn, was found by police at the foot of the stairs on Wednesday, April 2, this year.

Greater Norfolk coroner William Armstrong said Mr Lee had consumed a "substantial amount of alcohol" and died from multiple head and chest injuries consistent with a fall.

The inquest heard a friend became concerned after failing for three or four days to hear from Mr Lee, who lost his wife last year.

She went round to see him and called the police after spotting him on the floor through the letter box.

PC David Gurney told the inquest, held at Lynn County Court, he forced his way into the house and paramedics had pronounced Mr Lee dead at the scene almost straight away.

PC Gurney said he found an empty glass at the top of the stairs and there were bottles of alcohol in the house, although there was no evidence of alcohol around Mr Lee.

A post-mortem showed Mr Lee's blood alcohol level to be more than two-and-a-half times the legal drink-drive limit and Mr Armstrong said there was evidence he had "made substantial use of alcohol."

Recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Armstrong said: "It's certainly more than possible that Mr Lee fell at a time when he may have consumed alcohol to such an extent it impaired his judgement."