A MOTHER who killed herself by jumping in front of a train left her 18-month-old baby at home alone.

Sonia Franque's husband told an inquest jury he had a feeling she had committed suicide when he saw police outside Norwood Junction railway station, on December 15.

Lucas Franque had returned to their home, in Croydon Road, Penge, and found the toddler alone and taken him out in his buggy.

He told Croydon Coroner's Court, on April 2: “When I got to the station I felt something inside of me.”

He became distressed when police sergeant Timothy Scott told him a woman had been hit by a train.

Sgt Scott, who had to stop him from going onto the platform, said: “I found out later Mrs Franque was reported missing and the description matched.” He visited Mr Franque the next day to say her body had been identified.

Train driver Edward Batchelor told the court he was travelling at 60mph from London Bridge to Brighton when he saw a woman approach the edge of the platform.

He added: “I immediately sounded the horn, but she jumped on the track and lay across the line. I applied the emergency brake.”

PC Dave Morgan of the British Transport Police said allegations from family members Mrs Franque had been followed to the station were not proved and detectives were not treating the death as suspicious.

Her sister, Patricia Hanson, said she had been a bubbly character and loved to travel the world.

The inquest heard Mrs Franque, 32, had a history of mental illness and had left her job as an accountant three years ago.

Mr Franque, a postman, added his wife was often depressed and felt she could not cope with their financial difficulties.

The jury returned a verdict of suicide while the balance of her mind was disturbed.