A DAD-OF-TWO was found dead in his home in Oswaldtwistle, an inquest heard.

Michael Prestage, 56, was found in his home in Roe Greave Road on Thursday, January 26,

Police broke the door down after his family became worried about him.

An inquest heard there was a note on the dining room door reading ‘don’t come in, call the police’.

Coroner Michael Singleton said Mr Prestage had battled with depression.

At the inquest his brother Noel Prestage said: “I spoke to him a week before and he admitted he was down. He said he’ll bounce back.”

His sister Kathleen Young said: “He was everything you could ask for in a brother.

“He just had trouble in the last year or so.”

His daughter Courtney had been first to be worried about her dad when she couldn’t get hold of him, and she contacted his brother and sister.

Mr Singleton said: “It certainly seems to me that the mind is capable of going to some very dark places and clearly from the notes Michael was in a dark place.”

Mr Singleton deemed the verdict of death was suicide caused by hanging.

The inquest hearing was staged in Blackburn.