AN INQUEST has opened into the death of a woman at a mental health unit.

Bethany Lilley, 28, died on January 16 at the Thorpe Ward of the Basildon Mental Health Unit at Basildon Hospital.

The death of Ms Lilley, who was from Clacton, was ruled to not be suspicious by police after they attended the scene.

The inquest into Ms Lilley's death was opened at Essex Coroner's Court in Chelmsford on Monday.

Coroner's officer Robert Colbert told the court Ms Lilley had been discovered in the ward on the morning of January 16.

He said: "At the time of her death Bethany Lilley had been staying at the Thorpe Ward of Basildon Mental Health Unit, she was from Clacton-on-Sea.

"She was found unresponsive at the ward, and despite efforts from the staff and paramedics she was sadly declared deceased at the scene.

"Police officers attended and found there to be no suspicious circumstances and no evidence of third party involvement.

"A post mortem examination was carried out which has released a provisional cause of death as 1A pending further toxicology."

Coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray adjourned the inquest for mention on May 6, with the full hearing set to take place on June 14 at the same court.

A spokesman for the Essex Partnership University Foundation Trust, which operates the mental health unit, said: “Sadly, a woman in her 20s was pronounced dead at Basildon Mental Health unit on January 16.

“An internal investigation into the woman’s death is underway.”