A FATHER-OF-TWO asked his ex-partner to stay on the phone as his car crashed at high speed into a motorway barrier.

Michael Barrow, 30, of Sumner Road, Birkenhead died on May 23 near junction 3 of the M53 at Woodchurch, an inquest was told.

Mr Barrow had lost his roofing business, having been declared bankrupt in March, and had suffered with bouts of depression.

The court heard he had split from Lola Heygarth, the mother of his two children Laila, eight, and Curtis, four, and there had been failed attempts to get back together.

In a statement to police, Miss Heygarth said: “He called saying that he was in the car and was going to the motorway to find a place to kill himself.

“He said he couldn’t deal with life any more as too much had gone on.”

Miss Heygarth became visibly distressed and Wirral Coroner Christopher Johnson read her statement, saying: “He said ‘I’m doing 90mph’. “She was in a state of panic, worried he was going to do something stupid.

“She could hear the sound of the engine running and he said ‘This looks like a good spot’.