A doting mother who had a history of depression died after taking a cocktail of prescription drugs and alcohol.

Denise Rose Hemsley, 41, was found dead at her home in Beauford Road, Horam, on April 13 last year.

At the inquest into her death in Eastbourne, East Sussex Coroner Alan Craze read a toxicology report which found the former garage attendant had taken sleeping drugs tramadol and temazipam, and drunk enough alcohol to be more than three times over the legal drink-drive limit.

The inquest heard that Mrs Hemsley, a mother of two who was separated from her husband and whose teenage boys were at the time being looked after by her mother Jean Wickham, had previously taken several overdoses of prescription drugs.

Mrs Wickham, of The Rise, Horam, described these as "cries for help".

The inquest heard Mrs Hemsley was upset at having been beaten up two weeks before she died and still had a black eye from the attack.

She was found dead lying curled up on her bedroom floor.

Police officers found empty drug packets throughout the house and an almost empty bottle of vodka in a drinks cabinet.

Speaking as a witness at the hearing, Mrs Wickham said she had asked doctors on several occasions to stop prescribing her daughter drugs when she was taking them in bulk.

She said the doctors told her they had reduced the number of tablets Mrs Hemsley was prescribed each time to try to prevent an overdose happening.

Mrs Wickham said she had also asked the mental health team dealing with her daughter to section her under the Mental Health Act for her daughter's own protection but to no avail.

Recording a verdict of death by misadventure, Mr Craze said: "This is a possible suicide because it all depends on what was going through her mind when she did it.

"I don't think it's possible to say beyond reasonable doubt that she wanted to kill herself."

He said it was a shame that Mrs Hemsley had not made more use of the medical and emotional support that had been offered to her by various agencies.

Speaking after the hearing, Mrs Wickham said her daughter was a character who "liked to have a laugh".

She added: "She loved her two boys and she loved life."