A MARRIED couple found dead in their car near a Purbeck beauty spot died of carbon monoxide poisoning, an inquest hearing was told today.

Dorset Coroner's Court heard that Peter and Deborah McGuinness, from Kingston upon Thames, London, were found deceased in their vehicle at the car park of Durlston Country Park, near Swanage, earlier this year.

In a short hearing at Bournemouth Town Hall, presided over by coroner Brendan Allen, coroner's officer Laura Thorne confirmed: "Mr McGuinness travelled to Dorset with his wife Deborah and parked at Durlston Country Park.

"They were found in the vehicle, sadly deceased, on August 3, 2020."

Separate inquests into the couple's deaths were opened and adjourned by Mr Allen.

The court also heard that in both cases, following post mortem examinations, the cause of death was recorded as carbon monoxide poisoning.

Mr McGuinness, aged 54, was employed as an insurance handler while his wife worked as an office manager.

In the meantime, Mr Allen said he would be requesting statements from the couple's family, GPs, police and would find out if they were known to mental health services in Kingston upon Thames.

Emergency services were called to Durlston Country Park on the morning of August 3 after reports two people had been found unresponsive in a car.

The ambulance service was first at the scene with land and air ambulance crews called.

Officers from Dorset Police and firefighters from Swanage also attended.

Police launched an immediate investigation to identify the individuals and the circumstances of their deaths, as well as informing their next of kin.

They quickly established the deaths were not suspicious.