A teenager told therapists she was having problems with school friends and having suicidal thoughts before she was found dead at home, an inquest heard.

Ashleigh Bowes was just 14 when she died at her home on Newquay Drive in Macclesfield last year.

An inquest opened after her death resumed yesterday at Warrington Town Hall.

The inquest heard she was referred to The Priory by her GP for treatment for an eating disorder and depression in November 2013.

A few months after starting day care at the centre and later undergoing cognitive behavioural therapy sessions, she told her psychiatrist she was having suicidal thoughts, the inquest heard.

She started taking anti depressants in February 2014.

One account from a therapist which was read in court said Ashleigh had told her she wanted to ‘take tablets and go to sleep forever’.

In sessions with her CBT therapist, Ashleigh, a pupil at Fallibroome Academy, said factors which contributed to her distress included problems with people at school, the hearing was told.

But therapists at The Priory reported she had a better summer, and that she had been having a good time with her friends and felt more positive.

She was discharged from The Priory in August 2014 after a review by her carers.

But on the morning of August 30 she was found dead at home.

Her therapists told the inquest they were shocked and distressed to hear about her death.

Claire Evans, the cognitive behavioural psychotherapist who treated Ashleigh, said: “Ashleigh engaged very well and was very insightful into the circumstances which led to her eating disorder - her low mood, issues with peers at school, relationship with father and difficulties with her parents.

“Her mood fluctuated as she was exposed to her triggers, such as contact with peers at school. She felt she wasn’t good enough and didn’t fit in.

“She felt she wasn’t attractive or as popular as others and that she was average, and that developing an eating disorder would separate her and she could work on her appearance, to lose weight.

“She had fleeting suicidal thoughts where she wanted to end her distress but had not made any plans to take her own life.

“After she was discharged from The Priory I discharged her from CBT. Things were very positive and she had responded well to treatment.

“She was enjoying joking with friends and showed me selfie photos with friends at a party. Her mood when we last met seemed quite stable and she was looking forward to school holidays.

“I was shocked and distressed to hear what happened.”

The inquest is due to conclude on Thursday.

Proceeding.