A 47-year-old woman from Bolton tragically took her own life earlier this year, an inquest has heard.

Kelly Makin, also known as Kelly Hudson, was found dead at a car park off Barrow Bridge Road on February 15 this year. 

Ms Makin, who worked as a barmaid, had been reported missing the previous evening by a colleague. 

On the Thursday, her aunt, Caroline Woods, went to look for her. She tried the car park and found her car, before calling emergency services. 

Upon arrival, they got into the car and declared Ms Makin dead at the scene. 

An inquest into her death was held on Thursday, July 18 at Bolton Coroners' Court. 

Ms Woods told the hearing that her niece had suffered with mental health and drug issues during her life, primarily with amphetamine. 

On February 14 this year, Ms Makin, who lived at Barlow Park Avenue in Astley Bridge, was reported missing. 

Ms Woods said: "When she had gone missing on previous occasions, it was always with a partner. 

"We didn't know where she was, but it was always known she was with somebody. 

"But this time she was on her own." 

She added that, because Ms Makin was on her own, she was concerned for her wellbeing. 

Ms Woods added: "I thought to go to Barrow Bridge because it was secluded and we used to live near there."

Upon arriving, she saw her niece's black Ford in the car park, but could not see in because of condensation and a "blanket" obscuring the view. 

Ms Woods called the emergency services. Police broke a window and found Ms Makin on the back seat. 

She was pronounced dead by paramedics at the scene. 

Pathologist Dr Ravindra Sawant conducted Ms Makin's post-mortem investigation and said how there was nothing unusual about her appearance. 

However, a toxicology report found that she had far beyond the fatal range of a prescription drug in her blood. 

DI Stuart Woodhead told the inquest how police found three unsent messages on Ms Makin's phone from between 10pm and 11pm on February 14, which confirmed her intention to take her own life. 

He added: "Search history indicated she was feeling low and had intentions. She was researching methods to end her life."

Coroner Stephen Teasdale concluded Ms Makin's death as having been a suicide.