A woman was trampled to death by a horse just hours after leaving hospital in Dartford, an inquest heard.

Gravesend mother Teresa Turner was found lying on her back in a field with a large white horse about 130ft (40m) away.

The married 53-year-old was a recovering alcoholic and was taken to Darent Valley Hospital the evening before her death because she was fitting from alcohol withdrawal.

Mrs Turner, of St George's Crescent, lost her five-month-old son 13 years ago and that was when her problems with alcohol began, the inquest heard.

She discharged herself from hospital without waiting for a doctor's authorisation in the early hours of April 13 last year and walked down Darenth Wood Road.

The inquest was told she climbed on top of a chalet at the Knoxfield caravan site on the same road.

Lavinia Harber, who lives next to the chalet Mrs Turner was sat on, said "she was obviously confused and not with it".

Her husband Paul Turner searched the area with police when he found out she had left the hospital, but to no avail.

Mrs Turner was found in a dead in a field at the back of the Knoxfield site at about 9am.

A post-mortem examination found her death had been caused by multiple compressive chest injuries, likely to be from the horse.

Coroner Roger Hatch concluded a verdict of misadventure.

For the full story, see Thursday's Dartford and Gravesend Messengers.