A depressed man was found dead in the Leeds-Liverpool Canal just hours after opening Christmas presents with his wife, an inquest heard.

David Butler, of Melbourne Street, Clayton-le-Moors, was discovered by a dog walker near Enfield Wharf on Boxing Day and his blood-stained car was later found on nearby Atlas Street.

Blackburn Coroners Court heard how the 49-year-old had been diagnosed with bi-polar disorder in November and had been receiving help from the Crisis Resolution and Home Treatment team.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Butler died of hypovolemic shock, and coroner Michael Singleton ruled he took his own life.

The inquest heard how Mr Butler had been separated from his wife Julie before they got back together in July last year.

Mrs Butler told the inquest how he was ‘fine and very happy’ but then ‘went into a depression’ after being diagnosed with bi-polar disorder.

She told the hearing: “He seemed to get worse. One moment he was really happy and jumping around but the majority of the time he was depressed. He sat crying or slept a lot.

“His mood swings were all over the place. The crisis team came our two to three times a week or contacted him by phone.

“He talked a lot about suicide but I didn’t think he would carry it out. It was like a cry for help sometimes.”

Mrs Butler, who works as a life skills trainer, said Christmas Day had been a ‘good day’.

She said: “He picked me up at 9am as I work night shifts. We came home and made breakfast and opened Christmas presents and sat and watched TV for a while.

“He then sat with his head in his hands and said he felt depressed again.

“I said ‘come on, it’s our first Christmas back together, cheer up and let’s make the most of it’.

“I went to sleep and woke up and saw David making Christmas dinner. He was in a good mood and fine all night.”

The inquest heard how Mr Butler was gone when she awoke the next morning and a note was later found in his bedside table.

Jonathan Ousby, a social worker with the crisis team, told the inquest how he last visited Mr Butler on December 23 and he ‘appeared to be making some progress’, was making plans to go back to work in the New Year and agreed to receive support from therapy group Mindsmatter.