A housewife whose best friend's son killed himself by jumping off a viaduct ended her life in a similar tragedy.

Shirley Tweedale, 45, was found injured on the footpath underneath the 60ft Victorian viaduct, which crosses Mann Dam at Cleckheaton Bottoms, by a woman walking her dog.

Mrs Tweedale died at Dewsbury District Hospital on November 23 last year.

Huddersfield Coroner's Court heard how Mrs Tweedale had spoken to her friend Linda Parker, whose son Jonathan Newcombe had died after jumping from the Cleckheaton viaduct in June 2000. Mrs Tweedale told Mrs Parker she had been contemplating ending her life by jumping from the same bridge.

The inquest heard a statement by Mrs Tweedale's husband, Michael. He said they met in 1983 at church and married in 1984. Mr Tweedale, of Eighth Avenue, Hightown, Liversedge, said they had no children, but Mrs Tweedale had miscarried in 1996 and then suffered a premature birth.

As a result of the traumas, she was admitted to St Luke's Hospital, Huddersfield, and the Priestley Unit at Dewsbury District Hospital, where she was said to be psychotic. She was visited by a psychiatric nurse once a week.

Mr Tweedale said sometimes his wife would worry and become paranoid about unimportant things. She had taken an overdose of paracetamol in the past, but he thought that was a cry for help. The inquest heard how Mrs Tweedale left a note for her husband on the mantlepiece before she jumped.

In a statement, Mrs Parker said she understood her friend was depressed over her mother's death and money problems. She said Mrs Tweedale changed after her miscarriage and premature birth.

"I think all her problems eventually got on top of her."

Coroner Roger Whittaker recorded a verdict that Mrs Tweedale took her own life.