A MAN killed himself after he was unable to recover from deaths in his family and the collapse of his joinery business.

An inquest heard Anthony Downes lost both his mother and elder brother within a short time, five years ago.

The 37-year-old had started drinking heavily and started to suffer from depression when his father died last year.

His drinking continued during a holiday to Australia and the US last year with his wife, Tracey Marie, and their nine-year-old son.

When they returned, he called his wife, who is a nurse, on his mobile telephone.

She was in bed at the family's home in Rothesay Grove, Nunthorpe, Middlesbrough, after working a night shift and thought her husband was downstairs.

Mr Downes told her he had written her a note that he had left in the utility room.

She told Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield: "I thought it was probably just a letter to apologise for his behaviour on holiday.''

She felt unwell and spent the next day in bed, getting up about midnight to find what was his suicide note.

Mr Downes was found hanging from a tree on land behind his house by landowner Stephen Tighe on November 23, 2004.

Mr Downes had been prescribed medication for mild depression by his GP,.

The coroner recorded a verdict that Mr Downes killed himself.