A DEPRESSED pensioner took her own life by pouring kerosene over herself and igniting it with a cigarette lighter, an inquest heard yesterday.

Sylvia Gladys Sanderson's charred body was found by her brother, Brian, on the patio at her home in Middleton-in-Teesdale.

She had suffered a heart attack as a result of extensive burns.

The inquest hearing at Darlington Magistrates' Court was told Mrs Sanderson, 64, had been badly affected by the death just weeks earlier of her husband, Thomas.

The former cook and housewife had spoken to friends and had mentioned how she "would be better where Thomas was".

Margaret Jackson, from Eggleston, Teesdale, a friend of Mrs Sanderson, told the inquest that she visited her the day before her death, on April 21.

She had been depressed following the death of her husband of 40 years, but had "brightened up" by the time she left, she said.

The next day Mrs Jackson attempted to contact her friend, but got no reply.

Mrs Sanderson's brother, Brian Staley, and local GP Michael Montrose visited her home in Alston Road and found her body. An empty plastic container smelling of fuel and three cigarette lighters were found near the body.

Detective Sergeant Kieron Reed, based at Crook police station, was called to the scene to carry out an initial investigation.

He found that a domestic fuel tank in the garage, containing kerosene, had been partly drained.

Det Sgt Reed said: "The seat of the fire was restricted to where the lady had lain. I concluded that she had poured fuel over herself and then set fire to it."

There were no signs of a struggle and no suspicious circumstances, he said.

Colin Penna, Darlington and South-West Durham Coroner, said that Mrs Sanderson had suffered superficial, but extensive burns, and had died very quickly. She had suffered from periods of depression and had been deeply affected by her partner's death.

He recorded a verdict that Mrs Sanderson took her own life, saying her death was an "extremely sad and dreadful story".