A councillor's son died after taking a massive overdose of cocaine and collapsing on a beach.

Robert Clark, 33, had snorted 'colossal' amounts of the class A drug and was twice the drink driving limit when he died at a spot near Glyne Gap, Bexhill.

Toxicology reports after his death revealed he had 14.5 mg of cocaine per litre of blood in his system. One mg per litre of blood is a potentially fatal concentration.

His father Charles told an inquest today he had tried repeatedly to find help for his son since he uncovered his cocaine addiction two years ago.

Councillor Clark, who has served on Rother District Council for 17 years, said he researched the subject and thought his son was consuming about £300 worth of cocaine per week.

He said: "I'd sat with him on many occasions and said, 'It will kill you in the end, you've got to accept some help'.

"I took him to the doctors many times, but whenever some help was set up he'd go to one appointment and wouldn't go again.

"Two weeks before he died he said to me, 'I've got to do something, I've got to get off this'."

Coun Clark told the inquest his son had experienced psychological problems after being involved in a car accident at the age of 17.

He had started drinking heavily and had suffered bouts of depression during his twenties, and had once tried to overdose on sleeping tablets.

Coun Clark described his son as a "vibrant, happy and outgoing character" and said he did not believe he had intentionally harmed himself.

He said: "I believe he felt he could take it and get away with it."

The inquest in Hastings was told that Mr Clark, a part-time barman, had been lodging with friend Alan Hopkins for six months before he was found dead on the morning of Monday May 21 last year.

The men had started drinking during Sunday afternoon and had later gone to the Pelham Hotel Pub in Holliers Hill, Bexhill.

When they returned home to Terminus Road, Bexhill, Mr Hopkins became angry with his flatmate for inviting two 'unsavoury' strangers from the pub back home, and after an argument Mr Clark left the house.

Police believe he may have been walking back to his parents' home in Kinver Lane, Bexhill, when he left the footpath and collapsed on the beach.

He was discovered early the next morning by Brian Fox, a beach inspector with Hastings Borough Council.

Mr Fox stopped his car after seeing a man lying on the beach, his feet facing the sea.

At first he had thought he was asleep, but when he touched his cheek he realised he was dead.

Mr Clark had dropped his mobile in a patch of grass nearby but his keys, a wallet containing £400 and a plastic bag with 7.4g of cocaine worth around £350 were still in his pockets.

Coroner Alan Craze said Mr Clark had taken a 'colossal' amount of cocaine and that his death was sad and tragic.

Recording a verdict of death from dependency on drugs he said: "Whilst those who know someone with a cocaine habit as strong as this will know they are at risk, it is nonetheless a shock .

"This is a grossly addictive substance and in the end it has killed Robert Clark."