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Kerry Katona's ex-husband George Kay died after "biting into a ball of cocaine", an inquest held on Tuesday 10 August has heard.

The Atomic Kitten singer's ex died age 39 in July 2019 when he collapsed from a seizure at the Holiday Inn hotel in Sutton Weaver, Cheshire.

George was rushed to hospital but was later pronounced dead.

Three years on, an inquest held in Warrington has heard there was some dispute about the amount of cocaine seen in George's hotel room the day before he fell ill when police were called to the hotel.

Officers were called to the hotel 12 hours before his death at 9.54pm, following complaints he was seen walking around the corridors "asking for someone to be his friend".

Police said Mr Kay was hallucinating but, he was allowed to remain in his hotel room despite officers noticing traces of cocaine by his bathroom sink.

A policewoman was later disciplined for not searching Mr Kay or arresting him for possession of cocaine.

Hotel staff had reported seeing four large "pinches" on the bathroom sink or a half teaspoon full.

The inquest on Monday heard how a hotel worker saw George pull a large ball of "white powder" from a sock in his pants before eating it on the day of his death.

Luke Smith, a food and beverage supervisor at the hotel, told the hearing: "I saw white powder in the bathroom.

"The following morning he needed housekeeping to let him back into his room. He pulled out a sock with a large ball and was sat in a chair.

"He caused the ball to crumble by crushing it and I believed it was drugs. He became very unwell, so we put him in the recovery position and called an ambulance."

The coroner said Mr Smith had earlier described the substance to a police watchdog investigation as: "A large white ball shape, he believed it was drugs."

He added how Mr Kay was biting into the ball which "continued to crumble".

Kerry and George were married from 2014 to 2017 and welcomed daughter Dylan-Jorge together in 2014.

George played rugby for Warrington's under 21s team and went on to play for Sale, Lancashire and Widnes.

Speaking at the inquests, his mother Hilary said: "He had taken recreational drugs from a young age and I was aware of his drug taking in May 2019.

"He had a social life which involves various celebrity friends and they would provide money and there was talk about helping him set up a business abroad. He took a trip to Australia to watch a Rugby tournament. He had a lovely time and was not taking any drugs or alcohol at that time. There has been occasions in the past where he had become agitated from his drug usage.

"He knew he had problems but he was a lovely lad who made friends easily. He was kind and would do anything to help anyone. He had personal difficulties which may have increased his drug taking."

Coroner Peter Sigee recorded a verdict of drug-related death at the inquest.

He said: "Police officers were called to attend because Mr Kay was behaving in an effective manner. He admitted to taking drugs, he was calm and police did not consider it lawful to arrest or search him. They did not think he required an urgent medical assessment and they left.

"On the morning of 6 July, he was seen to eat a quantity of cocaine and then collapse. It is not possible to say now he came into possession of the cocaine he took on that morning but I am satisfied the death was drug related."