A BLACKBURN pub landlord hanged himself because of problems with drink, money and marriage.

David Allen Stewart, licensee of the Star and Garter in Railway Road, was found hanged from a piece of yellow washing line fixed to a door at the pub. There was a bucket nearby which he had apparently kicked away after fixing the ligature.

An inquest heard that Mr Stewart had moved to the pub two years ago with his wife Sharon Foley, but the couple had separated on several occasions and were estranged at the time of his death.

Miss Foley told the inquest that she had not seen her husband for four weeks before his death but had spoken to him on the phone.

She said he had seemed distressed and upset and when asked if she knew why Miss Foley answered: "Everything. Money, me, just everything in general.

"I had been trying to help him out and I knew the pub was struggling," said Miss Foley. "I had lent him some money before to keep the bailiffs away and try and pull him through." Miss Sandra Haig, owner of the Ribble Snack Bar next to the pub said she had known Mr Stewart since he took over the pub and they had become friends. She said she was aware he had a drink problem and described him as a compulsive drinker. "He had a lot of things on his mind," said Miss Haig. "He had all the bills coming in, his pub was going under and his marriage had broken up." Miss Haig said he had mentioned harming himself on several previous occasions but only when he was drunk. "We never took him seriously," said Miss Haig. "He would sober up and life would go on but I knew things were getting him down."

Steven Swales lived at the Star and Garter and described his friend as a heavy drinker. On the day of his death Mr Swales had left the pub in the morning to go on a training course. Mr Stewart had let him out and at that time had seemed fine.

"On the Thursday night he was down but he was fine in the morning. He was drinking heavily but apart from that everything was normal," said Mr Swales.

When he returned at approximately 12.30pm the pub was not open and Mr Swales could not get in using his key. Eventually with the help of customers from a nearby cafe, the door was forced and Mr Swales discovered his friend's body hanging from the living room door.

The medical cause of death was given as hanging and a post mortem examination also revealed a blood alcohol level over three times the legal drink driving limit. Coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict that Mr Stewart killed himself.