A PENSIONER hanged himself in his own home after leaving two notes on his front door indicating his intentions, an inquest heard.

Peter Evans, 74, was found dead by police officers at his home in Audley Road, Colchester, after a worried friend raised the alarm.

An inquest held at Chelmsford Coroner's Court recorded the primary cause of death as fatal pressure on the neck.

Mr Evans also suffered from severe chronic obstructive lung disease.

Giving evidence, Inspector Steve Scott-Haynes said: "A member of the public who was a friend of the deceased attended the address and found two notes stuck to the front door.

"The house was tidy. It was dusty, with cobwebs around a number of rooms.

"In the living room there was bedding on the sofa which confirmed the deceased had been sleeping in that room. "There was nothing to indicate any third party involvement."

The inquest heard Mr Evans had no family, leaving a neighbour of 20 years to act as executor of his will.

He was found dead on December 19 last year.

Speaking at the inquest, the friend said: "I had been at the property in the morning delivering a Christmas card. "I knew he wasn't in good health. He had bad asthma and his living conditions didn't help.

"There was quite a lot of damp in his house, it was not very well looked after.

"I only knew certain bits of information.

"He has life-long friends who are the beneficiaries of his estate.

"I have known him for about 20 years, I live around the corner and he used to be a gardener for a colleague of mine."

Recording a conclusion of suicide, senior coroner Caroline Beasley-Murray said: "He had severe chronic obstructive lung disease which was a natural disease that was present but wasn't the main cause of death.

"I have come to the very sad conclusion that Mr Evans intended to take his own life.

"I am satisfied on the evidence he formed the intention to take a deliberate action knowing it would result in his death.

"Having regard to the notes there is a certain amount of pre-meditation.

"They are rather scrappy little notes but they do indicate what he was going to do."