A wife killed herself when she couldn't come to terms with the end of her relationship.

Elizabeth O'Dwyer, 33, of Pinehurst, had separated from her husband Brendan in 2002.

On April 10 last year she was in Swindon celebrating her 33rd birthday when she came across her husband by chance.

In a statement read out at the inquest Mr O'Dwyer told how he had given his wife a birthday hug and she had whispered in his ear 'I will always love you even if you don't love me.'

Three days later, when she failed to turn up to work and did not reply to a message on her answer phone, her parents used a spare key to get into her house.

They found her slumped by the stairwell with a rope around her neck. Her mother, Eunice Hayward, in a statement to the inquest, said: "My husband ran upstairs and released the rope, but it had no effect."

Mrs Hayward, who lives in Wootton Bassett with her taxi driver husband Peter, described her daughter as a "special, loving, caring individual.

"The root of her unhappiness was the breakdown of her marriage. She had always hoped for reconciliation.

"There was no indication of a problem until a visit to see relatives when she burst into tears.

"Brendan had told her there was no future in the relationship.

"She was very low. We convinced her to go to the doctor, who prescribed anti-depressants. She lost weight."

Elizabeth met Brendan in 1990 and they set up home together three years later. They were married in 1994.

Mr O'Dwyer said in a statement: "I tried to protect her feelings and not give her false hope."

Two of her friends gave statements. Annette Skeats, of Penhill, said: "Elizabeth told me her life was not worth living."

Lynette Rogers, of Gorse Hill, said: "She couldn't imagine life without him. She was always hoping he would come back to her."

Coroner David Masters recorded that she killed herself.

He said: "Mr O'Dwyer could not live with his wife, but still loved her which would have given her hope for a reconciliation.

"One often finds a note to confirm intention. In this case there is no note, but I am satisfied she did intend to take her own life."

David Andrew