A missing mother who was found dead in a lake at Bluewater was struggling with mental health problems, an inquest has heard.

Taiwo Adefolakemi Balogun, 53, was discovered in water at the Greenhithe shopping centre at the end of December after being missing for almost the whole month.

An inquest into the Crayford mum-of-three’s death heard how Ms Balogun’s cause of death was given as immersion and fatal alcohol intoxication.

The court heard how officers from the Met Police spotted the Nigerian-born woman’s body in the lake on December 30 after searching CCTV.

Officers from Kent Police and the fire service were then called to the scene.

Following her death, Ms Balogun’s twin brother Kenny paid tribute to his “easygoing sister” who he explained was struggling after the death of her only daughter in 2007.

He explained how his niece Teleola Patra Aworinde died of pulmonary edema – which is a build-up of fluid on the lungs – when she was just 15.

The 53-year-old told KentOnline: "Her daughter died about 15 years ago but she was still struggling to accept that. That is what has been bothering her, she lost her girl.

"She was not able to accept the fact that Teleola is dead, that her daughter is gone forever."

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Ms Balogun moved to the UK in the early 90s to study at the University of East London and learned about Microsoft-certified engineering courses and earned her degree.

She leaves behind three sons – Ayotunde, 22, Ibunkun, 20, and Seni, 18 – brother Kenny, a sister, a brother and a step-brother.

More than £4,500 was raised by neighbours, who lived next to the mother in London Road, Crayford, and described her as a “lovely” woman.

A full inquest will take place on October 19 at County Hall in Maidstone.