Relatives of a 49-year-old woman who died inexplicably at her home in Chesham will never find out the cause of her death after inquest findings were inconclusive.

Shop assistant Cathryn Gardner's body was found by police at her flat on Brockhurst Road on June 4, 2015, but it was suspected that she died a number of days before.

Ms Gardner was not married and was known to have suffered for a long time with bi-polar disorder.

An inquest at Beaconsfield Coroner’s Court heard that Ms Gardner’s sister, Jane Gardner, had seen her ten days before her death and was told she was not feeling very well and was suffering with stomach cramps and pain in her abdomen.

Dr Peter Johnson, consultant pathologist at Wycombe Hospital, said that because the body was not discovered quickly, it made it more difficult for the post-mortem to establish a cause of death.

Giving evidence, Dr Johnson said: “We didn’t see evidence which you would associate with high blood pressure and there was no evidence of any external trauma.”

Toxicology reports found that a chemical in her blood was almost five times its normal limit causing the acidification of the blood via a process called ketoacidosis - a metabolic state where the body fails to regulate ketone production.

Ketoacidosis is most commonly seen in untreated type-one diabetes. Ms Gardner had been tested for diabetes a number of times before she died and no evidence was found.

Dr Johnson said: “In this case I do not know a reason for why the level of this chemical was there and it is the only thing that could explain the death.”

Coroner Richard Hulett said in summary: “There is nothing to suggest that this was not a death by natural causes.”

If you would like to leave a tribute to Cathryn, pleased post in the comments section below or email william.burton@london.newsquest.co.uk.