A CORONER looking into the death of a woman whose body was found at her Colchester home concluded no one would “ever quite know” why she died.

An inquest heard Valerie Bartholomew had taken a lethal cocktail of alcohol, paracetomol and pharmaceutical drugs before she was found at her home in Jennings Close, Colchester.

Essex Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray recorded an open verdict because she was unable to decide whether Miss Bartholomew, 52, intended to take her own life or had mixed the drugs and alcohol by accident.

The inquest heard Miss Bartholomew suffered mild learning difficulties and mental health problems, including manic depression. She had a history of taking overdoses and self-harming.

Mental health workers had been trying to contact her for several days without success and on July 16 last year, forced their way into her home to find her body on her bed.

A post-mortem examination was carried out at Colchester General Hospital and toxicology tests showed the mix of drugs and alcohol had killed her Mrs Beasley-Murray said: “This was a sudden and unexpected death. The court has been helped by a letter from the family and is aware of the background.

“Unfortunately, Miss Bart-holomew suffered over the years from a mental illness, bipolar affected disorder.

“I know there was a history of self-harm, but those could have been cries for help. I am not satisfied she intended to take her own life.”

Miss Bartholomew’s mother and sister were present at the inquest, at New Bridge House, Chelmsford, yesterday.