A CORONER gave an open verdict at an inquest into the death of a Barnoldswick man who was found hanged.

Gary Brown, 26, was found dead by his family, who had been watching television, at their Chestnut Drive home, Burnley Coroner’s Court was told.

He had been planning a weekend away with friends and had given no indication of being unhappy.

His mother, Joan Creek, said her son had always been ‘a little sensitive’ and had composed ‘very deep’ poetry at a younger age.

"He always felt he had to be the clown, or the joker, to make other people feel better, while inside he was hurting,” she said.

The inquest heard that the family had their evening meal then Gary went upstairs at around 6.30pm.

Mrs Creek said that, unusually, no-one left the living room to either make a cup of tea or visit the bathroom, until her son’s body was discovered.

Consultant pathologist Dr Walid Salman confirmed that the cause of death was hanging and there were no other signs of injury.

Recording his open verdict, East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said: “Something has upset him and he has decided to behave in the way that he did.

"Maybe he thought he would be found.”

The inquest heard that Gary had been treated previously for depression but went to work abroad before undergoing proposed counselling work.

“I keep thinking, what if we had gone upstairs, was he doing this as a cry for help, and would we have found him?” added Mrs Creek.