A nurse killed himself with an overdose of insulin from the hospital where he worked, an inquest heard.

Toby French, who was depressed, injected the anti-diabetes drug and died three days later at the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton.

Mr French, 24, of Springfield Road, Brighton, who was not diabetic, died in May.

He was found unconscious in his room, a syringe and a bottle of insulin beside him.

He was treated in intensive care, but tests showed no sign of brain activity and he was declared dead.

The inquest heard Mr French, described by witnesses as emotionally fragile, had talked about committing suicide.

He left letters to his mother and two friends indicating he intended to take his own life.

Staff nurse Jason Roach, a friend, told the inquest insulin could be obtained easily on hospital wards.

He said: "It is usually kept in a fridge on the ward, not in a locked cabinet."

Brighton and Hove assistant deputy coroner Michael Keen recorded a verdict of suicide while Mr French was suffering from emotional stress.