BROKEN-hearted Leslie Butt committed suicide after he split up with his partner, an inquest heard.

Mr Butt, 45, of Upper Ley, Box, was found dead on September 11 in the passenger seat of a vintage car he was renovating.

An inquest at Devizes magistrates' court on Friday heard Mr Butt was depressed following the break-up of his relationship with girlfriend Teresa Rumming.

He had been living with Miss Rumming but she had moved out in July last year.

Brother-in-law Roy Blake found Mr Butt, who had died from carbon monoxide poisoning from the car fumes.

Mr Butt's mother had become worried for her son when she walked past his home and saw the curtains closed, and called her daughter and son-in-law.

Wiltshire coroner David Masters read a statement from Mr Blake.

Mr Masters said: "Your wife received a call from her mother expressing concern about Leslie's welfare and it was as a result you offered to go and check. You saw lights were on inside the house and some of the curtains were closed.

"When you looked into the car through the front passenger door, you saw Les. The doors to the car were all closed."

Pc Peter Fennell, of Corsham police, attended and said the house smelt strongly of exhaust fumes when he entered.

"The car had a plastic vacuum cleaner pipe connected to the exhaust and put through the rear nearside window," Pc Fennell said.

A note explaining Mr Butt's intentions was found in the house.

Mr Masters recorded a verdict of suicide.