​A debt-ridden man blew himself up on a busy motorway by setting light to petrol in his van after sending emotional texts to his partner and his ex-wife, an inquest heard.

Ministry of Defence workshop foreman David Clarke, 37, died in the blaze that engulfed his Ford Transit on the M5 motorway near Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, in the early hours of January 11 this year.

The inquest in Cheltenham heard that traces of petrol and the remains of a cigarette lighter were found in the melted remains of the driver's footwell of the Ford Transit van.

Gloucestershire coroner Alan Crickmore said he was satisfied that Mr Clarke, of Leek Road, Cellarhead, Staffordshire, had taken the action that led to his death.

But he said he could not be certain that Mr Clarke, who worked at the MoD military vehicle depot at Ashchurch near Tewkesbury, had intended to take his own life.

Lorry driver Mario Calderone told the inquest he was driving north along the M5 near junction 9 at 1.30am when he became aware of 'a ball of flames moving along the southbound carriageway.'

He saw it was a small vehicle that was ablaze, he said. The front of the vehicle and the cab were 'well on fire.' He dialled 999 to raise the alarm.

Mr Clarke's partner, Zena Astley, told the inquest in a series of statements that he had been an 'outstanding dad' to his teenaged sons Jamie and Darren.

He left for work early on Monday each week and returned to the family home on Friday afternoons, she said.

He was an 'emotional person who kept things bottled up,' said Miss Astley.

Three weeks before Christmas it emerged that Mr Clarke had a relationship with a woman in Tewkesbury, she said.

They had an 'enormous row' about it and he was 'feeling terribly guilty.'

However, they had a wonderful Christmas together and on January 8 he had spoken to a debt advisor about his financial problems. He seemed happier about his financial situation, and 'he could see light at the end of the tunnel,' she said.

On January 10, they were both very quiet, Miss Astley said, and after she went to bed that night she received text messages that included the words "I never meant to hurt you in any way ever. I'm so sorry Zena, love you always forever' and 'Will you please look out for the boys when I'm gone.'

He owed around £38,000 - £27,000 in loans that were being paid on time - and £11,000 on six credit cards that were each up to the credit limit and in arrears.

Consultant pathologist Dr Keith McCarthy said Mr Clarke's body had been badly burned in the blaze. Analysis revealed he had 88mg of alcohol per decilitre of blood in his system - just over the legal drink-drive limit of 80mg. He died from the effects of fire.

Verdict: Open.