A Flackwell Heath man and a woman who were found together inside her flat took their own lives, an inquest has concluded.

Niraj Patel, 31, and mother-of-two Alex Mills, 32, were found at Ms Mills' home in Gorleston in Norfolk on July 21 this year.

Her children did not live at her address.

Norfolk's senior coroner Jacqueline Lake said that relatives of Ms Mills had been unable to contact her in the days prior, so they went to check on her.

They called police when they were unable to get inside using a spare key, as there was a key in the lock inside the flat, and officers found the pair in the bathroom.

The fire service helped disperse gas from the property.

Police officers found a sign on the outside of the bathroom door warning people not to enter, and there was packaging which had contained chemicals inside the bath.

Post-mortem examinations recorded that both kitchen assistant Ms Mills and shop manager Mr Patel died of carbon dioxide toxicity.

Police found two notes in the property, one signed "Mummy" and one signed "Raj".

Coroner Ms Lake said Ms Mills had a history of anxiety and depression while Mr Patel, of Magpie Close in Flackwell Heath, had no relevant medical history.

She said that notes found indicated that the pair intended to take their lives, adding that they were also "under police investigation, which would have played on their mind".

She concluded that both died by suicide and extended her condolences to loved ones.