A 10-year-old boy came down for breakfast to find his dad hanging in the living room of their Accrington home.

Deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton said the last action of 31-year-old Andrew Grimes was "extremely selfish."

"The thing that concerns me most is the fact that Andrew Grimes' body was discovered by his 10-year-old son," said Mrs Singleton. "I cannot begin to imagine what effect that has had on Matthew. It is something he is going to have to carry with him for the rest of his life.

"Depressed or not, I find it an extremely selfish act for any person to risk that happening. I can only believe that the balance of his mind must have been severely disturbed."

The inquest heard that Mr Grimes, of Cartmel Street, had taken to drink after losing his job as a labourer five years earlier. His wife, Kim, said he became very depressed and frequently told her he was going to kill himself. Mrs Grimes said the threats became almost a weekly event and she thought he was just attention-seeking. However she contacted police in February when he called her to say he was going to throw himself under a train. In May Mr Grimes' mother died the day after he had argued with her and her death sparked a week-long drinking binge, during which time he never appeared sober.

Mrs Grimes, who was working nights, took their three children, aged 10, seven and five, to a friend's house because she did not think her husband was fit to look after them.

Early in June Mrs Grimes noticed a change in her husband who was not drinking as heavily, and decided she could leave the children at home. When she left for work on June 2 her husband had not had a drink all day and seemed perfectly normal. She never saw him alive again.

Family friend Tracy Barrow said Mr Grimes came to her house the night of his death. She said he was depressed and said he wanted to be with his mum. "He said that Kim did not deserve what he had done to her," said Mrs Barrow.

Friend and neighbour George McNally told how Matthew, his sister Gemma, seven, and brother Luke, five, ran into his Broadfield Road home the following morning.Matthew said: "I have found my dad, he has hung himself." Mr McNally found Mr Grimes suspended from a door.

Mrs Singleton said she did not feel able to record a verdict of suicide because she had to be sure he intended to take his own life. "I am not convinced this was not another cry for help that went tragically wrong," said Mrs Singleton, who recorded an open verdict.