A TEENAGER found hanging by his shoelaces two days after being sent to a young offenders' institution left a note telling his family he loved them, an inquest jury was told yesterday.

Kirk Edwards, 17, was found by a fellow inmate of Wetherby YOI who called on him in a cell with some tobacco in May last year.

Kirk, who was serving a five- month sentence, was given the kiss of life by staff, including the governor.

He was then rushed to Harrogate District Hospital where he spent four days on a life-support machine before dying.

The jury returned a verdict of suicide after hearing how a note was found beside Mr Edwards.

It said: "I love you all. Tell Heather I love her. Show this to my mum."

A fellow inmate, also 17, who gave evidence from the dock of the magistrates court, said: "He just seemed normal and as happy as anyone could be at being inside."

After the hearing his father, David Edwards, called for the prison authorities to learn lessons from the case and keep a careful watch on prisoners with suicidal tendencies.