THE Government's "heart tsar" has been struck by tragedy after the woman who shared his home was discovered hanging from the banisters.

Annette Aston, 45, was found at the couple's home in Copmanthorpe near York on Thursday evening.

A spokesman for North Yorkshire Police said: "We received a call saying the woman's body was found at the house. There are no suspicious circumstances."

Ms Aston had told friends she was getting married to Dr Boyle and had showed off a diamond engagement ring.

She worked for Community Publications in Pocklington, York, which was closed yesterday as a mark of respect.

An inquest into her death was opened and adjourned yesterday in York by coroner Donald Coverdale.

The coroner said Ms Aston had spoken to Dr Boyle on the telephone and when he came home she was hanging by the neck from the banisters.

Dr Boyle attempted mouth-to-mouth resuscitation but had been unable to save her.

Mr Coverdale said a post-mortem examination had given the provisional cause of death as hanging and added Ms Aston had been suffering from depression.

Dr Boyle, who has worked at York District Hospital for 17 years, was appointed as Britain's first National Director for Heart Disease in March. He was given the task of cutting the number of deaths from heart disease by 200,000 over the next ten years.

Ms Aston had previously worked for The Northern Echo's sister paper the Yorkshire Evening Press.

She was also an RSPCA volunteer and had worked at York Animal Home. RSPCA York branch chairman Mike Peters said: "Annette became a very good friend to all the staff and volunteers.

"The branch is devastated by the news of her death and sends its condolences to her family."

A spokeswoman at York NHS Trust said Dr Boyle was on compassionate leave.

Before moving to Copmanthorpe Ms Aston lived in Healaugh near Tadcaster, where residents were shocked at the news.

Gillian Hayward, whose father was a neighbour in Healaugh, said: "She would always say hello and she loved animals. She would rescue any animal."