A young farm hand has hanged himself after seeing his life destroyed by foot and mouth.

Father of one Andrew Keighley, also called Rocky, had been left devastated after several jobs, including 17 years at the Otley-based Wharfedale Farmers' Auction Mart, came to an end with the slump in the rural economy.

The 33-year-old was found at his home in Castley, near Otley, on Monday where he lived with his partner and two-year-old child.

Mart company secretary Ernest Sherwin said: "He was such a bubbly character and everyone loved him.

"He is the last person you would have expected to do this but foot and mouth had ruined his life."

The funeral service will be at Leathley Church, near Pool-in-Wharfedale, at noon this Monday.

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