A MUM-OF-FIVE was found hanged at her home on her 34th birthday.

An inquest in Bolton heard how Deborah Ellis was a heavy drug user and struggling to cope with life.

She had returned to Hardie Avenue, Farnworth, in April after a failed attempt to start a new life in Cardiff.

In a statement read out in court Mrs Ellis' husband Kris, told how his wife, who was known as Deb, had suffered from depression and was a binge drinker who took amphetamines before developing a crack cocaine habit.

He said that on May 26 they had enjoyed a night out at a friend's house and she had returned home the next day.

But after he arrived back at the house they had a row and he left to go to Deane with a friend.

Then, at 12.20pm, Mrs Ellis sent him a text message stating: "I'm sorry for everything — I love you so much."

Mr Ellis told how he returned their semi-detached home.

"When I went in the back door I had a funny feeling something was not right," he stated.

He discovered his wife hanging and efforts by paramedics to revive her were unsuccessful.

Mr Ellis added that although his wife would give the appearance of being happy, the opposite was true.

"She was a friend to everybody and will be sadly missed," he wrote.

No family or friends attended the inquest, but, in a statement, Mrs Ellis' sister-in-law Kate Dixon said her relative had become increasingly involved with drugs.

"It was difficult to see the decline in her," stated Mrs Dixon.

A post mortem examination revealed Mrs Ellis died from hanging and at the time of her death there were small quantities of cocaine, alcohol, cannabis and paracetamol in her system.

Assistant coroner Timothy Brennand recorded a conclusion of suicide.

He added that the mum had been involved in a "dysfunctional" relationship with her husband and her life had descended into a "catalogue of self-indulgent dependence on alcohol or drugs."

"It is plain to me that, at the age of 34, with the responsibility for five children, she was clearly struggling to cope with day-to-day life," said Mr Brennand.

"May 27 would have been a milestone birthday — that is a trigger to underlying reflecting on personal circumstances."