Fashion designer Alexander McQueen hanged himself after taking a cocktail of cocaine, sleeping pills and tranquillisers, an inquest heard today.

The 40-year-old's body was found in a wardrobe at his flat in Mayfair, central London, on February 11, the day before his mother Joyce's funeral.

The inquest into his death was told that McQueen had a history of depression, anxiety and insomnia and had researched suicide on the internet prior to taking his life.

Westminster Coroner Dr Paul Knapman said the designer had ``killed himself while the balance of his mind was disturbed''.