An Oxford man sent his daughter a text message saying goodbye before he gassed himself in his car, an inquest heard.

Mr Rodney Allen, 49, a carer of Burchester Avenue in Barton, Oxford, was found dead in his Montego estate car at 3.30pm on February 15 this year.

David Bull, of Burchester Avenue, Barton, went to search for Mr Allen after his daughter, Debbie, raised the alarm. Mr Bull found the Mr Allen's car parked off the road in the entrance to a field in Elsfield, near Oxford.

The car was locked and a hosepipe was attached to the car exhaust.

Miss Allen told the court she had noticed a change in her father's mood when he said goodbye before leaving the house. She said she later received a text message from him saying goodbye and contacted police.

In evidence, Dr Stephen Wood, a GP from Headington, told the court Mr Allen had been depressed for the last six years and had considered suicide.

Coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded a verdict that Mr Allen took his own life and died from carbon monoxide poisoning.