AN Unsworth woman told her hospital carers she was going to kill herself, moments before she was struck by a tram, an inquest heard.

Miss Audrey Jane Hayhoe lay across the track in the tunnel at Whitefield Metrolink Station as a tram travelled towards her.

She died from multiple injuries. Family photographs were found around her body.

Miss Hayhoe, also known as Audrey Davies, had to be identified by property and fingerprint checks following her tragic death on July 1.

The inquest in Bury heard how the 40-year-old, of Hare Drive, had a history of depression and two of her three children had been adopted due to a long-running alcohol problem. She had voluntarily sought psychiatric help at Fairfield General Hospital.

Staff at the unit became concerned when Miss Hayhoe failed to return to the ward after a day out. They contacted her on a mobile phone.

She said she was on the Metrolink travelling between Bury and Besses o'th' Barn and intended to kill herself.

The hospital rang the police immediately and within minutes, Metrolink put out advice to all its drivers to be on the alert.

However, one driver came back to say that he had hit an object in the tunnel on the approach to Whitefield Station.

Tram driver Mr Mark Nutter said that as he approached the Whitefield station through the tunnel he saw something lying across the track looking at him. He then felt a bump and realised he had gone over a body.

Police were called to the tunnel and they quickly discovered Miss Hayhoe and the pictures of her children placed beside her body.

Coroner Mr Barrie Williams recorded a verdict of suicide.