A COUNCIL worker hanged himself after his partner's death sank him into depression, an inquest heard.

Stephen Whittaker, 52, was found by a police officer slumped over a three-rung stepladder in the bedroom of his home in Laburnum Close, Burnley, on May 3.

At an inquest at Burnley Magistrates yesterday his work colleagues from Rossendale Borough Council told how Mr Whittaker had turned from a forthright and keen worker to a withdrawn man, frightened of confrontation since his partner's death in October 1998.

And coroner Richard Taylor said the lack of attention from the health service in the weeks before his death was 'unfortunate' after work colleagues had reported he was suicidal.

On April 19 this year, two colleagues went to visit Mr Whittaker after he had failed to provide a sick note for four months.

It took Mr Alexander Watson-Levack, a work colleague of Mr Whittaker for more than 10 years, some time to get Mr Whittaker to answer the door.

"I noticed marks on his neck and we were concerned he had tried to do something to himself," he said. "We offered to get him some groceries or take him to a meal.

"We tried to make conversation but he didn't want to know. So we returned to the office and contacted the health authority."

He was taken to the Burnley General Hospital by social workers after Mr Watson-Levack's report.

A psychiatrist interviewed Mr Whittaker and gave him some medication as well as another appointment at the hospital, rather than detaining him. He missed this appointment.

The next contact was by PC Karen Hignett, who found Mr Whittaker dead.

"Concern had been expressed about Mr Whittaker that he had not be seen for some time," she said.

"No reply had been gained from his house so I had to force entry. He had been dead for some time."

Mr Keith John Masser was Mr Whittaker's manager at Rossendale Council. He told the inquest how Mr Whittaker's character deteriorated. "He was a keen and enthusiastic in his work and a bit of a loner," he said, "He worked on his own.

"He called a spade a spade and was forthright with his opinions.

"This was what he was like when we first knew him -- for most of his career he was like that.

"But he changed when his partner died. He became withdrawn in many ways. He was completely different and wouldn't get involved in any arguments.

"We felt Stephen had few friends outside the office."

Abdul Al-Dawowd conducted the post-mortem examination on May 4. He said there was a 32cm mark, almost two centimetres in depth on his neck, and had damaged the larynx.

Mr Al-Dawowd said he had been there for over a day, but was unable to be more precise.

Coroner Richard Taylor said: "The lack of attention he appears to have had is very unfortunate, but that maybe of his own decision if he was determined that he didn't want any help from other people.

"It's clear that Mr Whittaker took his own life while he was depressed."