Christian Hobbin, 42, of Stamford Bridge, died on January 25 when he drove his car at top speed into Carmire Gate, a stone archway at the entrance of Castle Howard.

During the inquest into his death Traffic Constable Stephen Kirkbright told the coroner that since the incident he had discovered the local stately home was listed by name on a suicide website.

TC Kirkbright also said that his investigation team estimated Mr Hobbin to be driving his silver BMW at a minimum speed of 83 miles per hour when he struck the stone gate.

He said: "To the best of my knowledge, considering the extensive damage to the car, there was nothing apparent that would have caused the driver to lose control. I am of the opinion that there was nothing wrong with the car.

"The width of the arch is three metres wide, and as Mr Hobbin's BMW was 1.74 metres wide that only left around 60cm on either side.

"I would therefore expect someone to slow down well below the 60 miles per hour speed limit on the road."

Eye-witness Steve Wooley, of Main Street, Hovingham, near Malton, gave evidence at the inquest.

He said: "The road on which I was driving was very familiar to me, and there was just one other car on it at the time driving towards me.

"The car was travelling at some speed and even though it was my right of way through the gate I held back.

"The car increased its speed somewhat and at the last moment it veered to the right and collided with the wall. I saw no reason why the car should have done that.

"I got out my vehicle and went round to see if there was anything I could do. There was nothing I could have done."

Mr Hobbin, who worked as a train driver, left a suicide note for his wife Deborah Hobbin at the home they had shared in Roman Avenue North, Stamford Bridge.

The couple had been married eight years but had decided to separate just weeks before Mr Hobbin's death.

Mrs Hobbin told the coroner how her husband had "threatened to take his own life several times before over a number of years" and that he had done so in recent months.

She also said that in previous contact via text messaging leading up to his death Mr Hobbin had told her he was "going away for a while".

After hearing the evidence at Scarbor- ough's County Court coroner Michael Oakley said: "It is clear that from the evidence that he had made previous threats in relation to taking his own life and I have no doubt that this is what happened on this occasion.

"I shall record a verdict that Christopher Miles Hobbin killed himself."

Since Mr Hobbin's death, which was the third in three years, wooden bollards have been placed in front of the stone archway in a bid to prevent further incidents.