DEBT counsellors and the Samaritans today said they hope a revolutionary new money lending scheme will help to prevent tragedies after an inquest found a mother killed herself amid financial worries.

The inquest heard that Helen Murphy, 42, of Mersey Street, Longridge, left a suicide note which said: "I'm so sorry but I cannot live owing so much money."

She was found by her son Kevin when he tried to wake her for work.

He told the inquest that his mum, a sales assistant, was not breathing and called for an ambulance. A three-page note had been left by the bed.

He told coroner Michael Singleton that he was aware that his mother, divorced last year, had financial problems, although she had not discussed them with him or his brother James.

PC Nigel Harrison, based at Longridge, said he was called to the house and discovered empty packets of coproximol tablets, which contain both paracetamol and propoxyphene, next the bed. There was also an empty bottle of wine.

Mr Harrison then read out the note which began: "Dear mum and dad, I'm so sorry but I cannot live owing so much money. I can't work more than I can."

Mrs Murphy went on to ask her grandchildren to "forgive grandma" and told her family she loved them "with all her heart."

Her best friend, Barbara McManaman, with whom Mrs Murphy spent her last night, said she had no indication she was planning to taker her own life.

She said they often discussed personal matters as friends, but not to the extent to cause concern.

Mrs McManaman said: "We had a very enjoyable evening and there was no indication at all. Helen was looking forward to things and talking about going on holiday together."

A post-mortem examination revealed Mrs Murphy died from propoxyphene and ethanol toxicity. Mrs Murphy had four times the amount of paracetamol than the "therapeutic limit" and almost three times the drink driving limit in her body.

Ian Clough, manager of East Lancashire Moneyline, a schme launched from offices in Lord Square, Blackburn with the backing of Blackburn with Darwen Council to tackle the area's debt problem, said: "We would certainly hope that the scheme will help to avoid tragedies over money worries like this.

"We have already this week come across two people whose health is becoming a problem because of the financial pressures they are under."

A spokesman for the Samaritans in East Lancashire added: "Moneyline seems to be an excellent idea. There is an increasing problem that we live in a spend, spend, spend society and people get drawn into a sort of whirlwind.

"The Samaritans are here 24 hours a day help, and while we cannot offer individual financial adivice we can try to point the way to the chink of light at the end of tunnel."

A recent NOP poll revealed that one in four peole in the UK has financial worries.

Coroner Michael Singleton told the inquest that alcohol may have exaggerated Mrs Murphy's woes.

He said :"Whatever the problems were in terms of finance, in the cold light of the next morning things may have not looked so bleak."

He recorded a verdict of suicide.