A VALE hairdressers' receptionist was found dead in bed by her sister after taking an overdose of painkillers, an inquest was told.

The body of Melanie Louise Dunn, aged 52, from Columbine Grove, Evesham, was discovered on March 22.

The divorced mother-of-one, who lived alone, had been suffering from depression, coroner Victor Round said at the Stourport inquest yesterday.

Mrs Dunn had last been seen alive by her mother at around 5.30pm, two days before her body was found.

Her sister, Judith Collins, decided to visit her home address following failed attempts by other family members to contact her.

Mr Round said: "She went along because there were concerns about her sister and her safety. She had been suffering from depression and had left a series of letters."

Family members attending the court said Mrs Dunn had contacted her workplace on Monday morning to say she would not be in. She then failed to answer a phone call from her mother that evening.

Blood samples from Mrs Dunn's post mortem contained traces of the painkiller coproximal, which she was known to take.

Mr Round said he was unsure of the exact time of death.

He added it could have been possible that Mrs Dunn was unconscious but still alive when her mother rang.

Mr Round said: "I propose to return a verdict that she took her own life and the cause of death was coproximal poisoning."