DOCTORS were unable to save a mother-of-three after she swallowed 120 tablets, an inquest heard.

Alison Jayne Warrington, from Cross Street, Radcliffe confessed to taking a huge dose of prescribed drugs when she rang the Samaritans. And in a mobile phone message to her friend and former social worker, Mrs Warrington said that she was "fed up with life" and was a "burden" to her husband and children.

Coroner Barrie Williams heard at an inquest on Friday (Jan 18) how Mrs Warrington had been suffering manic depression for six years and was taking painkillers for a long-running back problem. The 29-year-old former Broad Oak High School pupil had also made previous attempts to harm herself. She was on long-term sickness benefit and had had psychiatric treatment. On the morning of her death on November 9 last year, Mrs Warrington's husband, Adam, awoke at 5am and found her on the telephone to the Samaritans saying that she had taken 120 tablets.

Paramedics took Mrs Warrington to Fairfield General Hospital but she died several hours later. A postmortem revealed she had taken fatal doses of anti-depressants and painkillers.

Mr Williams said Mrs Warrington had received prompt and appropriate treatment in hospital.

He said: "The readings of drug strengths clearly indicates an intention to take her own life as does the message she sent to her social worker that morning. If any further direction was necessary, it can surely be seen in the note she left addressed to her family.

Mr Williams recorded a verdict of suicide.