An arthritic pensioner whose body was found on a beach left her best friend a note saying she was going to end her life, an inquest heard.

Joan Hardiman's body was found by a foreshore inspector on Worthing beach in June.

An inquest at Worthing Hospital into the 92-year-old's death heard her hands and feet were gnarled with age and she was bent over with arthritis.

Her best friend Dorothy Johnson became concerned about her welfare after she failed to turn up for their regular cup of tea and a chat.

In a statement read out at the inquest her friend described Miss Hardiman, of Farncombe Road in Worthing, as an independent lady who kept herself to herself.

She said her friend had been on anti-depressants and had talked of killing herself but had said she could not go through with it.

The inquest heard that Miss Hardiman's body was discovered by foreshore inspector Tim Smalley as he patrolled the seafront shortly after 11am on June 16.

Items belonging to the pensioner were also found on the beach.

When police went to Miss Hardiman's flat they found a suicide note addressed to her best friend saying what she was going to do.

A post-mortem revealed she had drowned. West Sussex Coroner Roger Stone recorded a verdict of suicide.