A RETIRED farmer blasted himself in the head with his shotgun because of concerns over his finances, an inquest was told.

The inquest heard that 86-year-old Joseph Edwin Shepherd was worried he would not be able to pay his wife's care home fees and keep up the tenancy on his home at Mill House, Dunsop Bridge.

One of his sons, Edwin Shepherd, told the inquest that shortly before his death Mr Shepherd had changed his will to benefit his sons rather than his wife.

"He didn't want what money he had to go into care home fees," said Edwin.

He told the inquest he visited his father on June 28 and could see him sleeping in front of the television but did not try and wake him.

He returned the following day and when he could not find his father in the house began to search the out buildings. He found him in the barn, lying on his side with his shotgun underneath him.

Gill Naylor, a family friend, told the inquest she had spoken to Mr Shepherd on the evening of June 28 and nothing had been said to give her any cause for concern.

"He was talking about the future," said Mrs Naylor.

The cause of death was given as shotgun injuries to the head and coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdictof suicide.