A 40-YEAR-OLD man suffocated his daughter before hanging himself, an inquest heard.

The Orpington man, described as a "loving husband", pushed the five-year-old girl's face into a pillow, Croydon Coroner's Court was told on May 18.

Detective Inspector Colin Burgess said the mother came home to find the girl dead on a bed and her husband hanging from a garage beam.

He said all seemed to have been well in the family and it had been an "absolutely normal day".

A doctor's report spoke of the father's depression, for which he had been receiving treatment and hypnotherapy.

"There was never any indication he was violent or dangerous. Rather, he was a loving husband, " the statement said.

Pathologist Dr Vesna Djurovic said the father had several cut marks around his body, which all appeared to be self-inflicted but hanging was the cause of death.

Coroner Dr Roy Palmer recorded a verdict of unlawful killing on the girl and suicide on the father.

He said: "He left a note which gave some clue as to what he was going to do."

Dr Palmer made an order restricting the press from publishing any identifying details in regard to the December 30 tragedy.