A woman plunged to her death after taking a cocktail of drink and drugs, an inquest heard.

Caryn Sinden, 36, fell from the seventh to the third floor at Conway Court, Sackville Road, Hove, on June 10.

She was found in the third floor walkway with multiple injuries, wearing only a long shirt.

Earlier that evening Ms Sinden, a recovering heroin addict, had consumed a mixture of drink and drugs after arguing with her boyfriend, Ashley Jones.

Home Office pathologist Dr Peter Jerreat told the Brighton inquest that tests showed Ms Sinden had 279mg of alcohol in 100ml of blood, making her more than three times the legal drink-drive limit.

Mr Jones told the hearing Ms Sinden decided to go out after the argument.

Mr Jones said: "I thought maybe she had gone upstairs to another floor to see some people. She had stayed the night with friends before when we had arguments so I didn't worry."

Mr Jones took his dog for a walk, returning at midnight and going straight to bed.

At 8.30am Ms Sinden was found dead, lying on her back with injuries including multiple spine fractures, a ruptured spleen and a dislocated hip.

Detective Inspector Adam Hibbert, of Hove police, said there were no signs of a struggle and nothing to suggest her body had been moved.

He said forensic tests showed "slipping fingertip marks" on the seventh floor balcony.

The inquest heard Ms Sinden had spoken about suicide but said she would not go ahead with it.

She also suffered bouts of depression, particularly after breaking her leg, but had been fighting her addiction to heroin.

Recording an open verdict, coroner Veronica Hamilton-Deeley said she was not satisfied Ms Sinden was capable of taking her own life.

She added: "As to whether her death was an accident, it seems to me that somehow she had to get herself over the rail of the seventh floor and again I don't suppose anyone will ever know how that happened."