A MAINTENANCE technician hanged himself after a long battle with depression, an inquest heard yesterday.

Police found the body of Peter Lawrence hanging from the loft door at his home in St David's Close, Spennymoor, on Monday, after they were alerted by his girlfriend, Alison Weston.

Miss Weston told South West Durham Coroner Colin Penna that she became concerned about Mr Lawrence when he failed to return her calls. She said she had last spoken to the 43-year-old, who worked at Glaxo, in Barnard Castle, on Saturday night.

Mr Lawrence's brother, David, landlord of The Black Horse Tavern in Willington, said that his brother had been on medication for his depression, but came off it just before Christmas.

He said: "He had been off work for about a year with depression, but he had just gone back. We thought he was getting better. Over the past six months or so he seemed a lot chirpier."

The coroner recorded a verdict that Mr Lawrence took his own life.

After the hearing, David Lawrence paid tribute to his brother, who he said was a very popular and well-liked man.