A woman found her fiance hanging by a dog chain in their Pool-in-Wharfedale home.

Leeds Coroners' Court yesterday heard how former rugby league star 29-year-old Steven John Foster hanged himself from a stair banister of the house on Church Close last November, following an argument with his partner.

Mr Foster met Shelley Hill when he and a friend had moved from Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria, to the Otley area to look for work as a painter and decorator.

He had played rugby for Barrow Raiders, signing professional forms in 1994, but his career had been cut short by leg injuries.

A statement to the inquest from Miss Hill said the couple, who had been trying for a baby for months, often argued. They were both staying at her parents' house, although they were planning to get a flat together in Horsforth.

In her statement, she said Mr Foster was found to have fertility problems and she had been told she was too young for them to start fertility treatment.

The two sometimes argued after going out drinking, as she wanted him to save money for the flat and in case they had a baby in future.

The inquest heard Mr Foster had threatened to kill himself a number of times, after they had talked about splitting up.

They argued at home on the evening of November 4, when Miss Hill discovered that Mr Foster had been drinking. They agreed to stay in separate rooms for the night and talk about the situation in the morning.

Mr Foster had asked her to pass on a note to his mother and Miss Hill left to take her sister and her boyfriend to a party.

When she returned, she found the living room television turned on but no sign of Mr Foster. She started to go upstairs and found him hanging from the banister. Although she believed he was already dead she tried to free him, and after calling for an ambulance ran for the help of a neighbour.

Leeds Coroner David Hinchliff said a suicide note had been found. A post-mortem examination revealed Mr Foster had died of asphyxia due to hanging, and toxicological tests showed some alcohol in his blood stream.

He recorded a verdict of suicide.