Norma Shirley Scurr was found lying on the patio of her home at Whitegate Fields, Holt, by her husband Charles on the morning of July 25.

He said: "On that last night she looked at me rather strangely and I had the feeling, looking back now, that she knew what she was going to do."

Mrs Scurr had been suffering from anxiety and a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) at the time, which meant she developed worries about personal hygiene and cleanliness.

The 77-year-old would wash her hands up to 30 times a day and had a fear of contamination, the Flint inquest was told.

She had displayed obsessive behaviour as a young woman but this had "completely disappeared" for around 40 years.

However, the psychological problems re-surfaced after she had a heart operation in January.

At first Mrs Scurr was depressed and unable to sleep, and this soon developed into obsessive thoughts.

Husband Charles said: "As it got closer to the day she died her obsessions became impossible.

"She was almost in terror in case she got anything on her hands."

Mrs Scurr was referred to The Priory psychiatric hospital in Altrincham on May 16, where she stayed until being discharged and allowed to return home on July 16.

While at The Priory, Mrs Scurr tried to harm herself several times.

However, it was not clear if these were genuine attempts to take her own life or a "cry for help".

She told Priory staff that she had thought of harming herself, but wouldn't "give in" by taking her own life because she was worried how it would affect her husband.

She died nine days after being discharged from The Priory. A post-mortem examination found she died of multiple injuries.

John Gittins, deputy coroner for North East Wales, recorded a verdict of suicide but added that Mrs Scurr was "disturbed" when she decided to take her own life.

He told Mr Scurr: "Your wife was clearly very loved by you but she had some difficult moments in the last months of her life."