A TWENTY-two-year-old Stourport man could be heard revving his car as he rang a friend on a mobile phone to tell him he was going to kill himself, an inquest heard.

Noel Lawrence, of Mostyn Road, was found dead in his car on Hartlebury Common following the call which sparked a police search in Worcester, Kidderminster and Stourport.

Worcestershire coroner Victor Round told the inquest on Monday Mr Lawrence had recently split up with his girlfriend.

But reading from a statement by his mother, Jill, Mr Round said he had not appeared upset when he spoke to her as he left home some 11 hours before his body was found.

Mr Round said she was the last person to see Mr Lawrence alive as he left the family home at 8.30pm on Friday, October 7.

As he went out she saw a roll of tape sticking out of his pocket which she said she needed and which he promised to bring back.

The significance of the tape, which was used by Mr Lawrence to secure a hose to the exhaust of his vehicle, was not appreciated at the time, Mr Round added.

"He spoke to me quite normally and did not appear upset," said Mrs Lawrence.

"Then I got this call in the evening from his friend asking if I'd heard from him and that was all the friend said at that stage."

She was subsequently contacted by the police at 2.15am the next morning saying they were concerned and stating the reason for it.

Mr Lawrence was found dead in his car by a passer-by at 7.25am later that morning. A post-mortem blood test revealed a high level of carbon monoxide in his system.

Mr Round recorded a verdict that Mr Lawrence took his own life.