A 17-year-old student killed himself after his 15-year-old girlfriend ended their relationship, an inquest heard.

Matthew Barnes had been to see his doctor days before his death and confided that he had suicidal thoughts, the hearing was told.

But his parents said they had no idea what had been said and questioned whether there should have been patient confidentiality.

Matthew's father Martin Barnes said: "It's crazy, particularly with a young person who is obviously troubled. The doctor had no guarantee Matthew was going to talk to his mother and we had no idea he was thinking seriously of harming himself."

Dr John Randal revealed to the hearing that Matthew had spoken to him about harming himself and in particular about hanging.

Four days later the Oak Hill College, Whalley, student was found hanging at the family home in Osbaldeston Lane, Osbaldeston, just minutes after computer conversations with a close friend and his girlfriend.

In a conversation on MSN he told the friend he was looking at web sites that dealt with how to kill himself.

Julie Barnes told the inquest her son had been very fond of his girlfriend, and the relationship had been very intense.

She said that after her son made a comment about life not being worth living without his girlfriend, she had a long conversation with him and was sufficiently concerned that she thought he should see the doctor."

Mrs Barnes said that when Matthew came out of the consultation with the doctor he said it was a waste of time.

The medical cause of death was given as hypoxic brain injury and coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict that Matthew killed himself.