A BUTCHER shot himself while his wife slept in the same room, an inquest has heard.

Stephen Duffy, 52, put a shotgun in his mouth and pulled the trigger, an inquest at Durham Coroner's Court heard.

He was found in a living room armchair, with the shotgun by him, when his son came in later that evening, on May 13. His wife, Judith, had slept through the gun blast.

Mr Duffy, of Station Road, Murton, owned a butchers shop in the town's Front Street. His friend, Gary Torrance, said the pair were in a pub that day, and had discussed how business had been hit since the building of a ring road.

But there was no evidence to suggest the state of Mr Duffy's business had a hand in his suicide, the inquest heard. His family and friends said he never talked of taking his own life and his death came as a complete shock.

North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle recorded a verdict that Mr Duffy had taken his own life.