A LONELY mother who turned to drink after her son suffered brain damage in an accident 30 years ago hanged herself at her home in a bout of depression, an inquest heard.

Norma Douglass, a binge drinker, was found by her husband, Malcolm, when he returned to their home at Greenmount Lane, Heaton, from a business trip.

He found a note left by his 59-year-old wife to their daughter, Charlotte, apologising for her death.

Coroner Jennifer Leeming recorded a verdict that Mrs Douglass had taken her own life.

Mr Douglass, a company director, made frequent trips abroad with work. Charlotte was studying at Oxford University.

Days earlier, Mrs Douglass had visited the grave of her son, Philip, who had been in an accident in Australia in 1971, an incident which had left him in a coma.

She had looked after Philip until his death in 1996, often turning to drink to cope with her depression.

Just weeks earlier, she had been in The Priory, a rehabilitation clinic in Preston, where she was being treated for her addiction.

Mr Douglass said: "She felt she could never do enough for Philip. She sometimes blamed herself for his death."

He said his wife had never spoken about taking her own life.

Consultant pathologist Dr Stephen Wells said Mrs Douglass had been drinking on the day of her death.