A PENSIONER'S fear of becoming dependent on others made her take her own life, an inquest heard.

Edna Wright, 89, of Cherry Trees Flats, Coatham Road, Redcar, had been a diabetic for years.

At the time of her death, on January 9, last year she was recovering from a cataract operation and suffered from gall stones, for which she had been prescribed painkillers.

Lesley Kirwan, 56, Mrs Wright's daughter, said her mother was afraid of becoming physically and mentally dependent. Mrs Kirwan described how, on the day of her death, she called for her as usual to take her for Sunday lunch.

But finding the door locked from the inside with the key still in, she had to fetch her husband to let her in.

Mrs Kirwan, of Conway Road, Redcar, said she found her mother lying on top of the bed and showing no sign of life.

The inquest heard that Mrs Wright had written a suicide note before taking an overdose of pills. Gordon Hetherington, the Teesside deputy coroner, recorded a verdict of suicide