A FORMER potter from Nelson committed suicide by taking more than 12 times the fatal dose of anti-depressants, an inquest heard.

Craig Ormerod, 43, of Rutland Street, had given up his work as a potter several years before his death, after developing osteoporosis in his neck which left him in constant pain.

He was found dead at home on December 12 last year having taken a massive overdose and slit his wrists.

Craig, who had separated from his wife about two years ago, had two sons aged nine and 13 whom he saw regularly.

He had been treated for depression at the time of the break-up but his mother, Margaret Ormerod, told East Lancashire Coroner Richard Taylor that the family had thought his condition had improved.

She told the inquest, at Burnley Magistrates' Court: "He had developed osteoporosis in his neck some time ago and had to stop being a potter, which caused him some distress because he was in constant pain. He had suffered with depression but then he seemed to buck up.

"He had done a lot of voluntary work and got a job working with children with special needs.

"I had had a lot of contact with him over the three weeks before he died because my husband was in hospital. He rang me one night wanting to talk but then in the morning he said he was all right." Pathologist Dr Abdul Al Dowd, who carried out a post mortem examination, said Craig had died from an overdose of Amitriptoline. He had 6,300mg per litre of the drug in his bloodstream and a level of 500mg has been reported as having fatal consequences.

Mr Taylor recorded a verdict of suicide and said: "The tragedy of these cases is that loved ones left behind wonder what they could have done. The answer, in my experience, tends to be absolutely nothing."