A teenage soldier from the North-East hanged herself by her army tie after a drunken argument with her room-mate, an inquest heard yesterday.

Krystal Cookson, 19, went back to her block at Blandford Camp, Dorset, on May 14 after a night out drinking and night-clubbing with fellow soldiers, the hearing in Dorchester was told.

In the early hours of the morning she had a row over a trivial matter with her room-mate Nikita Chisholm, took her army tie from her locker and went to a toilet where she hanged herself from the door handle.

The inquest was told that Miss Cookson, originally from Samphrie Road, Port Clarence, Middlesbrough, was a strong and bossy character and an excellent sportswoman who had an excellent future in the army as a soldier technician.

Another room-mate, Natalie Alden, said Miss Cookson and Miss Chisholm would often argue and not speak but it was only over trivial matters. A police investigation into the death found no evidence of foul play or that Miss Cookson had been subjected to bullying or any form of harassment.

Recording an open verdict, West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston said that he did not believe the young soldier had intended to take her life because he did not think such a strong character would kill herself over ''a simple spat''.

''I do not know fully what was going on in her mind but I wonder if she was thinking of giving her friends a terrible fright and it all went horribly wrong. If you put something around your neck, the risks are very considerable,'' he said.