A supermarket manager turned himself into a human fireball after being jilted by the woman he wanted to marry.

John Wicks, 37, poured petrol over himself in his car before flicking a lighter in front of his hysterical girlfriend, an inquest heard.

Bystanders stood helplessly as flames engulfed Mr Wicks' G-reg Peugeot on May 29.

Firefighters tried to douse the flames but Mr Wicks, who died from his burns, was pronounced dead at the scene and later formerly identified by dental records.

The inquest in Hastings heard Mr Wicks, a Sainsbury's duty manager from Preston Road, Bexhill, had a complicated private life.

He had separated from his wife of nine years, Rosemary Wicks, two years ago but remained legally married to her.

In the meantime he had formed a relationship with a woman called Jo, who was simultaneously seeing Mr Wicks' brother-in-law, Malcolm Ridgeway.

The inquest heard Mr Wicks' relationship with Jo had been on the wane but he told friends he still intended to propose to her.

She, however, wanted to finish her relationship with Mr Wicks, the coroner was told. When Mr Wicks heard the news he drove to Jo's house in Chartres Close, Bexhill, just before midnight.

Witnesses said they heard raised voices as the pair argued.

Neighbour and friend Terence Eastwood, who had known Mr Wicks for 15 years, described how he saw Jo and her other partner Mr Ridgeway remonstrating with Mr Wicks as he sat in his car, threatening to set himself alight.

He then struck the lighter, sending the car into a ball of flames, the inquest heard.

Later it emerged Mr Wicks had left four letters, one to his mother, one to his children, one to his wife and one to Jo.

Recording a verdict of suicide, coroner Alan Craze said: "There is no need for me to read the notes but nevertheless all four give a clear indication of his intention to take his own life."