A woman with a history of mental illness hanged herself in her Oxford home while her husband was in the shower, an inquest heard.

Manjit Kaur Dhami, 33, of Mandlebrote Drive, Littlemore, was found hanging by a scarf from the bannister by her husband Jasbinder Dhami on April 27.

Mr Dhami told the inquest that his wife, who was a computer software engineer, had been depressed that morning.

He left her in bed and when he came out of the shower, found his wife hanged. An ambulance crew was unable to revive her.

Mrs Dhami was being treated by psychiatrists, and was on medication, although had been reluctant to take mood-stabilising drugs for fear of the side effects.

Mr Dhami untied her, and called for an ambulance.

Mrs Dhami was taken to The John Radcliffe Hospital but was pronounced dead shortly after she arrived.

Scenes of crime police officers attended the house, and were satisfied there were no suspicious circumstances.

Dr Peter Millard, a consultant pathologist, told the hearing that the cause of death was non-manual strangulation.

Coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded a verdict that Mrs Dhami had taken her own life, saying it was clear she had suffered from severe mental health problems.

He said: "We can only assume that morning she felt the time had come and when her husband was in the shower she chose to hang herself from the bannister."