A depressed hospital patient was killed when she stepped into the path of a moving train, an inquest was told on Tuesday.

Elizabeth Clarke, 55, of Horrocks Close, Lothersdale, died from horrific multiple injuries when she was struck by an early evening Leeds to Skipton train last month.

At the time of the tragedy she was a voluntary patient at Airedale Hospital after she started suffering from panic attacks.

Bradford Coroner's Court heard how she climbed over a stile in Thornhill Road, Steeton, and stepped onto the crossing as the train approached.

In a statement read to the hearing, train driver Christopher Farmer described how he was travelling between 45 and 50 mph towards Cononley when he saw Mrs Clarke step onto the track.

He applied the emergency brake but the train was too close to avoid the collision.

Marion Bellwood said in a statement that her sister was a gentle and sensitive person who found life quite hard.

Coroner Roger Whittaker said that the evidence led him to accept Mrs Clarke had intended to take her life.

He recorded a verdict that she killed herself.