MUM Carole Lovering died of a broken heart, 22 years after the death of her ten-year-daughter, an inquest concluded.

Mrs Lovering, 57, of Pickwick Road, Corsham, died on November 11. Husband Peter Lovering told the inquest she never recovered from the death of her daughter.

She never really got over it. It was always at the back of her mind, he said.

Mrs Lovering also had problems with alcohol, was dependent on the tranquilizer diazepam and smoked.

Mr Lovering said he woke at 7am and noticed his wife's bedroom light was on. He found her lying face down on the bed, her slippers still on, having not got int bed.

GP Dr Hannah Lane, from Box Surgery, told the inquest Mrs Lovering's health had not been good and she was a private person, dismissive of attempts to get to the bottom of her problems.

A post mortem report showed alcohol in her bloodstream.

Consultant pathologist Dr Jeanette Armstrong said the level was not enough to be toxic, the level of diazepam was just above the therapeutic level and she could find no indication of a heart attack.

She was unable to make out the cause of Mrs Lovering's death.

Wiltshire coroner David Masters recorded she had died of natural causes, probably because of some unexplained neurological episode, but he said to Mr Lovering: I have heard sadly about the loss of your daughter and I think you are right.

"The underlying cause was a broken heart.