A GOLF professional took his own life following a long battle with depression.

Leigh Golf Club's pro Michael Smith, 28, was found dead in his car on July 31 last year, from carbon monoxide poisoning, a month after being beaten-up outside a nightclub.

His father, Frank Smith, told a Warrington inquest his son had been depressed for two years since splitting-up with his girlfriend and had become increasingly withdrawn.

He said his son was particularly depressed about the shape of his nose, and had private surgery to alter it, which resulted in a boost to his confidence.

However, an unprovoked attack outside a Warrington night club, a month before his death, lead to injuries to his nose which further depressed him.

Mr Smith described how on July 30 his son drove off in the early hours of the morning, locked the door behind him. left the key in the lock and cut the telephone line, preventing his family from following him.

He was found in his Fiat Uno, on Withers Lane in High Legh, the following day, with a hose pipe leading from the exhaust pipe into his car. He had moderately high levels of alcohol in his body.

Cheshire Coroner, Dr Nicholas Rheinberg, recorded a verdict of suicide on Mr Smith, of Cherry Lane, Lymm.

He said: "He had no reason to be depressed, he was successful in his employment, but in June came an event which really did seem to cause problems."