A BISHOPSTOKE man killed himself on the same day his wife died, an inquest heard.

Winchester Coroners Court heard how 85-year-old James Anderson decided to commit suicide after years of grieving the death of his wife Stella.

The nephew of the former electrician from Underwood Road spoke at the court to saying that his uncle had become reclusive since his wife died of cancer in 2001.

Bryan Luffman told the court that he had been mood swings and had expressed an interest in “calling it a day” but had never taken things further.

“He was a very insular person,” he said. “It was just that he had had enough.”

His son Kevin had moved to Australia many years ago with whom he kept in contact but it was Mr Luffman who mainly looked after him at his home in Underwood Road.

The day before he died on December 14 last year he spoke to My Luffman on the phone.

Mr Luffman said he was in one of his “happy moods”.

“I think he must have made up his mind that he was going to go through with this. I think he wanted to me to go round there the next day because he was worried about his dog,” he said.

He had been due to attend a doctor's appointment but had failed to turn up. After making enquiries about where his uncle was he went to his house in Underwood Road and found him upstairs. He had hung himself.

A note written in Mr Anderson's handwriting was found in a blue book in the house. It said: “It's all yours now Kevin, I've had enough.”

After hearing other evidence including other notes found after his death expressing Mr Anderson's happiness or melancholia, the coroner Simon Burge recorded a verdict of suicide.

“I am convinced beyond all reasonable doubt that he intended to take his own life and said as much when his mood was black,” said Mr Burge.