A 73-year-old woman was found dead at her home days after being charged with drink driving, an inquest was told.

Lorna Plowright, of Oakdene, Wicken Green, near Fakenham, was found asphyxiated in her bedroom on the evening of September 12.

Senior coroner Jaqueline Lake heard she had been suffering from depression and an alcohol problem, as she struggled with the stress of her husband Gerald and her sister both suffering from dementia.

In a report read out at the inquest, at King's Lynn County Court, court, carer Ray Fretwell said Mrs Plowright had become 'highly embarrassed' about the drink drive incident, claiming she had been over the limit because she had added alcohol to a white wine sauce.

He added: 'She said: 'How can it have happened to someone like me at this age?' She was often laughing but her demeanor did appear to be subdued.'

Mr Fretwell said that Mrs Plowright worried about her sister as she had signed up for her home to have solar panels.

'She was frustrated,' he said. 'She was worried her sister was being taken advantage of and reported it to trading standards.'

The court heard another carer, Rosie Newstead, found Mrs Plowright's body when she turned up to care for her husband around 8.10pm in the evening.

Sgt Ben Jarvis, who attended the scene, said there were no suspicious circumstances. No note was found sat the scene.

A post-mortem revealed that alchol was in Mrs Plowright's body and she died from suffocation.

Concluding a narrative verdict, senior coroner Jacqueline Lake said: 'Mrs Plowright did not leave a note and I particulary take into account she had been drinking alcohol. Although she took her own life her intent is unknown.'

Mrs Plowright was stopped driving her Kia Picanto on Oakdene, in Wicken Green, on September 5. She was charged with drink driving after tests showed she was almost twice the legal limit.