A WOMAN found dead by her son at her West Dorset home was likely to have suffered a fall, an inquest was told.

Frances Vanora Hereward was found at the foot of her stairs in her home in Toller Porcorum on the morning of June 27.

The 64-year-old solicitor was last seen by her son Satish at around 10.30pm the previous evening when she went to bed and he found the body some time after 9am.

The inquest at County Hall in Dorchester was told she had consumed a bottle of wine and some Pimms the night before but it was not clear at exactly what time she had fallen.

Pathologist Dr Basil Purdue said Mrs Hereward had suffered a fractured skull and that the injury was consistent with a fall.

West Dorset Coroner Michael Johnston recorded a verdict of death as a result of an accident.