A man was found dead on rocks 350ft below his favourite cliffside walk, an inquest was told yesterday.

Redundant steelworker Alan Cheney, 53, loved the walk over Huntcliffe, from Saltburn towards Skinngrove, east Cleveland. Elizabeth Holliday, his girlfriend of eight years, said that in the past he had asked her to accompany him but she refused because she was scared of heights.

Four days before he vanished, he was treated in hospital after taking an overdose.

Mr Cheney, of Irvine Avenue, Saltburn, was found on August 10 last year by a beachcomber, the Teesside inquest heard.

Sergeant Andrew Wills, of Saltburn police, went to Mr Cheney's home and found a collection of items neatly laid out, including a wristwatch, papers and an envelope addressed to his 77-year-old father.

The note said he had had enough of feeling ill, said Coroner Michael Sheffield.

Psychiatrist Dr Angus Bell said that Mr Cheney suffered from acute anxiety which had ended his working life and he was unfit for work.

Pathologist Dr Mustansir Nurbhai said Mr Cheney suffered numerous fractures consistent with a fall. He said death was instantaneous.

The coroner said that it remained a matter of speculation what happened when Mr Cheney left the top of Huntcliffe.

He recorded an open verdict.