A MAN told an inquest of his last telephone conversation with his girlfriend, when she told him she had taken an overdose.

Suzanne Askew told Geoffrey Brown she had "had enough of her troubles", an inquest heard yesterday.

Darlington and South Durham Deputy Coroner Kenneth Howe heard that Ms Askew, 32, a mother-of-three, from Newton Aycliffe, had suffered personal problems and was afraid she had bowel cancer.

She had already had part of her bowel removed and was believed to have been in remission when abnormal cells were found.

Mr Brown, who lives in Winchester, Hampshire, said he had taken Ms Askew to a hospital appointment where she was due to have tests but the appointment was cancelled and she was told to come back a week later.

Mr Brown said that he had promised to return to Newton Aycliffe in a few days when he got text messages from Ms Askew.

When he telephoned her he asked her to telephone 999 but she said she was "better off out of it".

Pathologist Dr Clive Bloxome told the inquest that Ms Askew had taken a massive overdose of painkillers.

The coroner recorded a verdict that Ms Askew took her own life.