AN ELDERLY Alsager couple with a history of depression killed themselves in a suicide pact, an inquest heard this week.

Allan and Mavis Crabtree, aged 78 and 80, locked themselves in their car and used a vacuum cleaner pipe to pump exhaust fumes into the vehicle.

Their bodies were found by neighbours who had to break into the garage in Clowes Avenue on November 10 last year.

Speaking at the inquest at Crewe Magistrates on Tuesday, coroner John Hibbert recorded the suicide verdict and said the cause of death was carbon monoxide poisoning.

"There were no notes found that would indicate this was a suicide but with all the preparation that was carried out, it couldn't have been an accident," he said.

"A vacuum cleaner pipe was fixed inside the exhaust of the car, with the other end into the boot. Also a black box was left on the table inside the house containing all the deeds for the house, their wills and other important documents.

"Both of them had a history of depression. I'm told that MRs Crabtree always thought she was poorly and it is suggested she thought she had cancer, but there was no evidence of any cancer when the post mortem was carried out."

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