The heartbroken fiancee of a man who apparently committed suicide in a smoke-filled car says she cannot understand why he left her.

Distraught Vicky Ward, 20, said news of Paul Williams' death had left her stunned.

Ms Ward is eight weeks pregnant by Mr Williams, her partner of five years. They have a two-year-old daughter, Bethany.

Mr Williams, 38, of Hart Crescent, Blackhall Rocks, near Hartlepool, and his friend, Chris Howe, 32, of East Street, Blackhall Colliery, were found dead in Mr Howe's Vauxhall Astra at about 7.45am on Thursday.

They had stayed the night with a friend, but left at 1am. He awoke next morning to find the car parked outside his home, with its engine still running and a hose-pipe attached to the exhaust.

Police have ruled out any drugs link and suggestions that the pair were having a relationship.

Both men visited their loved ones the night before, telling them they were going on a trip and could not say when they would be back.

The deaths have left the small communities of Blackhall Rocks and Blackhall Colliery in shock.

Ms Ward said: "Paul had mood swings, which led to a lot of rows, and he suffered from depression. But I never thought he could do something like this.

"But when he wasn't feeling low or depressed, he was the perfect man and the perfect dad. He was my first proper relationship. We couldn't afford to get married, but we were happy most of the time.

"But when we found out I was pregnant, both of us were overjoyed."

She said Paul had been the best father in the world.

"She adored him. He had endless patience," she said.

Mr Williams also found companionship in his two beloved American bulldogs, Molly and her pup, Macie.

Ms Ward's mother, Fiona, 43, said: "I loved him very much, but even in his most awful depressions I couldn't imagine he would do something like this. It has left my little girl in so much pain. And what will it do to Beth when she realises he's not there any more?"

Mr Williams worked as a doorman in clubs in Hartlepool, including the Lighthouse, the Cotton Club and The Bank. He told Ms Ward he had previously worked as a laboratory assistant at Durham University, and also at Dewhirst's clothing factory and in a pet shop.

He had taken an overdose in October, which Ms Ward described as "more of a cry for help than a suicide bid".

Police believe Mr Williams and Mr Howe, another doorman who worked with him, made a deliberate decision to kill themselves.

They had known each other for about 15 years.

Ms Ward said: "He just said he was going away with Chris. I begged him to tell me where he was going and when he would be back, but he wouldn't. He just packed some clothes and left.

"It was something he had often done before. He always needed a bit of time to himself to sort his head out after arguments. So I never thought he was going off to kill himself."

Mr Williams visited Ms Ward on Wednesday. The next visit she received was from her father, accompanied by the police.

She said: "Dad insisted the police stay outside, then he came in and told me Paul had gone. I couldn't get my head round it, and I still can't. I don't know much about Chris, but I presume they must have talked about things when they were feeling depressed."