A fisherman who lived as a loner took his own life rather than seek help, an inquest heard yesterday.

The Hartlepool coroner heard that Barry Bronson was a proud man who could not bring himself to ask for help when he was unable to find work.

The body of Mr Bronson, 58, of Northgate, The Headland, Hartlepool, was found in his home earlier this month.

Police broke into his house after being alerted by concerned friends who had not seen him and he did not answer calls.

He was found hanging by the side of his bedroom door from a rope tied with a fisherman's knot.

Coroner Malcolm Donnelly heard that Mr Bronson had no previous history of clinical depression.

However, it appeared he had not been able to get out to sea for three or four weeks before his death and his money was running out.

He had lived alone for a number of years.

Speaking at the inquest, at the coroner's offices, in York Road yesterday, Mr Bronson's sister, Barbara Sherwood, described her brother as a loner.

Her husband, Trevor, said: "In the last few years he lost his partner and he became more of a recluse.

"He had been unable to get to sea and we found a bit of paper where he'd tried to work his money out and he was down to his last £39.

"I think the pressure told. He was a proud person but he'd come to end of his tether."

Earlier, the inquest had heard that Mr Bronson, who was not a drinker, had suffered a black eye before his suicide but it was not related to his death.

Mr Sherwood said: "He was not the sort of lad to get into any trouble like a fight, it just wasn't his nature."

Summing up, Mr Donnelly said: "Being such a proud man and not wishing to ask for help from anybody, it appears he was coming to the end of his money and said, 'enough is enough'."

He recorded a verdict of suicide.

Speaking after the inquest, Mr Sherwood said his brother-in-law had many friends in Hartlepool's fishing community.