A SCHOOLMISTRESS committed suicide in the Gulf state of Oman as her short term affair with another teacher crumbled, an inquest was told.

Christine Garford's naked body was found hanging from an electric fan at a rented house in Madinat, Quaboos, after an apparent row with fellow Briton James Bailey.

Her death in October 1998 sparked a three year inquiry by officers from the British and Royal Oman Police after friends and family insisted 38-year-old Miss Garford had "everything to live for."

The tragedy happened just two months after Miss Garford, formerly of Bury, went to Oman to teach at the British School.

The inquest in Bury was told her relationship with Mr Bailey -- a teacher at the same school -- did not work out and she slipped into depression.

Another work colleague, Ruth Park, told the Bury hearing how she had been close friends with Miss Garford when they met through their job in Oman.

"She was very easy to make friends with and I went out with her quite a lot," said Miss Park. "We went to parties together and then she struck up a friendship with James Bailey."

Miss Park added: "In the days before she died I saw less of her. I was concerned that she should not get to involved too quickly.

"One day she didn't turn into work and I saw James and asked him how she was. He said he had left her asleep on his sofa."

Miss Park said that Miss Garford later told her that her relationship "was a mess".

Miss Park said she and Mr Bailey went to the flat two days later when again Miss Garford failed to turn in for work. It was then they found her body.

A report by Royal Oman police heard there was no evidence of anyone else involved in Miss Garford's death although £500 pounds withdrawn from her account shortly before the tragedy was unaccounted for. Bury coroner Barrie Williams recorded a verdict of suicide.