A "happy-go-lucky" grandmother from Northfleet was found hanged in woodland in Biggin Hill, an inquest heard today.

The body of Jane Dale, 40, of Maritime Gate, was found on July 17 in the woods near Norheads Lane.

Alcohol and cocaine were found at the scene.

Her silver Ford Focus was found locked and empty in a remote country lane nearby.

Miss Dale, a funeral director at Dignity, had been reported missing three days earlier.

She was last seen by childhood friend Neil Wicker when he visited her house on July 13.

He told Croydon Coroners' Court: "When I saw her on the 13th she was happy. She was laughing and joking.

"We had a couple of drinks and were just talking and laughing and joking."

Mr Wicker said, while they were together, Miss Dale had a disagreement with her ex-partner, but by the time she drove him home she was "normal".

He said: "She drove me home at around 5.15pm on the 13th.

"She was going to go back to her office to do some work she had to get done for the following morning."

Mother Diane Dale, said: "Sometimes she was a little bit down with the work load and having to do all the jobs herself but I never knew she had any depression of any sort, I was never concerned.

"I last saw her on June 8 at her grandson's christening.

"She was happy. She was running around making sure everyone was happy and OK.

"She was a very happy-go-lucky girl, and if she had problems she clouded them over very well because we did not know that anything was wrong."

Coroner Adela Williams said: "Jane was a fit, healthy young woman. She had children and a grandchild of whom she was very fond.

"She was described as a 'happy-go-lucky person'.

"She had two periods of so-called depression but didn't require treatment for either.

"Her mother mentioned she sometimes felt miserable but this was linked to stress at work.

"When she was found there was alcohol present and cocaine present. Both of these can alter the way people think and affect their actions.

"There is not enough evidence to record a verdict of suicide.

"My view is we simply do not know what was in Jane's mind when she went to that place.

"I am going to record an open verdict."