A Southampton hospital volunteer died of a drugs overdose, an inquest heard.

Pauline Paul, 64, was an active member of a church, and a former support worker at Southampton City College.

Mrs Paul, a member of high IQ society Mensa, married husband Robert in July 1977, although the couple had been separated for 20 years at the time of her death.

The coroner was told that Mrs Paul had a history of depression and problems with alcohol.

Mr Paul said he had unsuccessfully tried to contact his wife on a number of occasions throughout the day on May 18. Eventually he went round to her house on Tangmere Drive, Southampton, and let himself in.

He found her in the bedroom and tried to resuscitate her before ambulance crews arrived.

A toxicology test found lethal amounts of an antipsychotic drug in her blood and small amounts of alcohol in her urine.

There was no suicide note and a police officer confirmed that her death was not being viewed as suspicious.

Recording an open verdict, coroner Grahame Short said: “Why she did it, her thinking and state of mind at the time, I’m afraid we will never know.”