A WOMAN celebrating her friend's 40th birthday died after suffering massive head injuries when she fell down stairs at a party, an inquest heard.

Frances Camplejohn, 34, suffered serious brain damage in the fall and died six days later at Middlesbrough General Hospital, on January 10.

Mrs Camplejohn, of Beech Tree Close, Old Cantley, near Doncaster, had been celebrating her neighbour's birthday with her husband and about 25 friends at Lartington Hall, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, when the accident happened.

Her husband, Neil, told an inquest at Darlington Youth Court that she had told him she was going to the toilet during the party, but that he became worried when she failed to return.

After searching for her with the help of a friend, Gary Barley, they discovered her at the bottom of a set of stairs leading to the cellar, which is directly next to the toilets. The inquest heard that the cellar also had a toilet in it, as well as a sauna and showers.

A post-mortem examination found that Mrs Camplejohn had suffered a fractured skull in the fall and severe bruising to her brain, consistent with a heavy fall.

She was found to be one-and-a-half times over the drink drive limit, but was not described as drunk.

South-West Durham and Darlington coroner Colin Penna recorded a verdict of accidental death.