An Eastbourne woman told her mother she loved her for the first time shortly before she plunged to her death from a top-floor flat.

Vivien Francis, 57, was described as lovable, warm and extremely loyal by friend Muriel Huson, of Wilmington Square, Eastbourne.

An Eastbourne inquest heard her husband, Richard Francis, had been in the shower on the morning of January 15. He thought his wife was getting ready for a hair appointment booked for 9am.

East Sussex coroner Alan Craze heard that when Mr Francis emerged from the bathroom in their two-bedroom flat in Burlington Place, Eastbourne, his wife was nowhere to be seen.

He looked out of the window into the car park, around 100ft below, to see his wife's body laid out on the tarmac.

Ms Huson said her friend had become more depressed in the weeks before her death.

She said Mrs Francis had told her mother she loved her for the first time in her life. She also told her friend she loved her.

The inquest heard police had ruled out third-person involvement. Mr Craze delivered an open verdict because no one had seen the fall.