THE family of a 26-year-old woman who died from a drugs overdose told an inquest that she had everything to live for.

Kathryn Berry had moved into a new home, in Station Road, Padiham, with her partner Brett Swales and was settling into a new job, Burnley Coroner’s Court heard.

Her mother Beverley Bearing said: “I thought that she was in the happiest period of her life. She was with Brett and she seemed really happy.”

Her daughter, who had been treated for depression, was found dead by Mr Swales in the early hours of March 6.

Later a post-mortem examination by Dr Walid Salman concluded she had died from a fatal combination of anti-depressants and a beta-blocker.

East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said it was clear that she had taken too many pills over the course of the evening.

But recording a verdict of accidental death, Mr Taylor added: “But I am confident that by that she did not intend to take her own life.”

The inquest heard that the couple had argued earlier the day and Mr Swales had been for a night out in Burnley with a friend.

The couple continued texting each other until around 10.30pm on March 5.

Mr Swales had lost his wallet and had to walk home, only returning well after midnight.

The hearing was told that he initially went to sleep downstairs, so as not to wake his partner, but later went to the bathroom and discovered Miss Berry’s body.

Her mother said that her daughter often ‘over-thought’ about things and she would veer from being ‘very bright or happy’ to ‘very down’.

But she had appeared to ‘calm down’ in the weeks before her death.

Mr Swales said Miss Berry had threatened to take an overdose previously, following an argument, but had stepped back.

He added: “I think it was more for effect than her actually meaning to do it.”