A RETIRED case worker for former Chester Labour MP Christine Russell died as a result of an accident, a coroner has concluded.

Mary Capner, 68, died at her home address in Marlston Avenue, Chester on October 17, 2018, as a result of an acute brain stem haemorrhage caused by head trauma.

At the inquest at Chester Magistrates Court on Thursday, April 18, area coroner for Cheshire Claire Welch heard evidence from a neighbour, medical professionals and family members that Mrs Capner had suffered from alcoholism in the four years since her husband Chris had passed away.

A neighbour had described Mrs Capner as "a lovely person" who had invited neighbours to a barbecue and would help at the local foodbank and help the homeless.

But there were occasions when neighbours and health care teams would have to help Mrs Capner when she had fallen over due to intoxication and would either require her being taken home or to hospital.

Mrs Capner's cousin John Nixon told the inquest she had also suffered from a leg ulcer which was not initially treated well until she saw a vascular specialist, and she had lost the strength in her leg, but alcohol intoxication had caused her falls.

Mr Nixon last made contact with Mrs Capner by telephone on the morning of Monday, October 15, but the following day was unable to contact her despite several attempts.

Police were called and they forced entry to Mrs Capner's home on Wednesday morning, where they found she had died.

Mrs Welch concluded that, on the balance of probability, Mrs Capner had, while intoxicated, suffered an unwitnessed fall on Monday afternoon or evening which had caused the head trauma which led to her death.

The conclusion was she had died of an accident, Mrs Welch added.

Paying tribute, Mr Nixon said: "I knew Mary all her life and can even remember her christening at St Werburgh's Church in Chester.

"With the exception of a very short time in Manchester, Mary lived all her life in Chester and until she married, in the unique atmosphere of Abbey Square.

"She remained very good friends with my family and she was always welcoming and very pleased to see us.

"Mary was warm and generous and had a good sense of humour. She engaged in ballet dancing when younger and was a keen actor and member of the YMCA Drama Society and also took part in the Mystery Plays in the grounds of Chester Cathedral.

"Mary was a talented in making her own clothes, an excellent cook and all-round homemaker. She was also quite expert at pilates and I believe she sometimes ran lunchtime classes at Chester Chronicle where she worked for many years. Mary was always a lover of cats and always had one at home.

"Mary nursed both her parents and more also more latterly, her husband Chris, who sadly died from cancer four years before her.

"Following the death of Chris, Mary worked as a volunteer for Cheshire West and Chester Food Bank and also Help the Homeless.

"She also worked for the local Labour Party of which she was a member for many years. She was always very concerned about social issues and was quite a champion of the less fortunate.

"Sadly, over the last few years, her own health suffered significantly and it was a sad day when she passed away. Her funeral at the Cathedral was attended by many people.

"My family would like to thank the friends and neighbours who gave Mary much help and attention when she was ill."

Christine Russell, MP for Chester between 1997 and 2010, said: "Mary worked in my constituency office as an administration assistant. She was a very caring person and was an active campaigner for the Labour Party in Lache ward.

"Mary supported the work of Chester Aid to the Homeless and served as a volunteer at the Lache Food Bank.

"Mary had a lifelong involvement with Chester Cathedral where her father was a chorister and was responsible for tuning the cathedral organ."

Ms Russell added, of Mrs Capner's relationship with her husband: "They had been a devoted, inseparable couple and I think Mary struggled to cope with her grief after she lost Chris."