The police watchdog is investigating the death of former rugby league player George Kay, who is believed to have died following a drug overdose in a hotel.

Kay, 39, the former husband of the singer Kerry Katona, died on Saturday 6 July after claims that he had “eaten a quantity of cocaine” in front of staff at the Holiday Inn hotel in Sutton Weaver, Runcorn, Cheshire.

His death is now being investigated by the police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct.

A source told the Liverpool Echo that Kay, who has a daughter with the former Atomic Kitten band member, was said to have been “acting erratically” the night before he died.

Cheshire police were called to the hotel on the Friday night over a report of concern for his safety.

Officers attended at 9.54pm, on 5 July, and spoke to staff with Kay remaining at the Holiday Inn for another night.

Hotel staff went to check on Kay at 10am on Saturday and found him “eating a large amount of suspected cocaine”, according to the report in the Liverpool Echo.

The police and the North West Ambulance service were called and Kay was taken to Warrington General Hospital for treatment, where he died.

The death is not being treated as suspicious and a file will be prepared for the coroner.

A police spokesperson said: “As with any death following police contact, Cheshire Constabulary has referred the matter to the Independent Office for Police Conduct. As the matter is now subject to an IOPC investigation it would be inappropriate for the force to make any further comments at this stage.”

The Holiday Inn said it could not comment on any specific incident but said it is supporting its staff.

Kay, a former winger for Warrington Wolves, was married to Katona between 2014 and 2017.