A coroner has returned an open verdict after hearing how a grandmother was found dead in the bath.

Magie Tao Brindley was found submerged in bathwater by her husband, Paul Brindley, in their Tonbridge home last November.

An inquest into her death heard paramedics at the scene did not think Mrs Brindley had drowned, as no water was coming from her lungs during CPR.

However a post mortem carried out by Dr Anna Rycroft gave the cause of death as drowning.

Coroner Roger Hatch said: "It is difficult to be conclusive, even on the balance of probabilities, as to how her death came about.

"For these reasons, I recall an open verdict."

Today's inquest heard how the Taiwan-born 63-year-old's husband would normally call up the stairs while she was in the bath to ask if she wanted a hot water bottle.

When Mrs Brindley, who had been suffering with a cold, did not respond on the night of November 22, Mr Brindley entered the bathroom.

He dialled 999 and started CPR, which Secamb paramedics took over when they arrived at the Shipbourne Road home.

Mrs Brindley was pronounced dead at 21.12pm.

The inquest heard paramedics laid her in bed shortly after.

Police were called to the scene and discovered no injuries on Mrs Brindley.

An unexplained bloody tissue was found at the side of the bathtub, along with shampoo and soap bottles which had not been disturbed.

Kent Police officers took body-worn camera footage of the scene, but this was not seen by the coroner.

Mr Hatch said: "It appears there has been a technical error and it is no longer available to be viewed."

Sgt Simon Windle ruled out any suspicion surrounding her death.

In a statement to the coroner, Sgt Windle wrote: "The working hypothesis is Mrs Brindley suffered a medical episode due to her current health and subsequently slipped under the water."

At the time of her death, Mrs Brindley was due to have a scan on a heart valve, and was undergoing dialysis for a severe kidney problem at Tunbridge Wells Kidney Treatment Centre.

Given the conflicting conclusions from emergency services and the post mortem report, Mr Hatch left the verdict as open.

Mr Hatch offered his sympathy to Mrs Brindley's family.