A gravely-ill businessman killed himself with a shotgun on Ilkley Moor, an inquest heard.

John Martinez-Perez, 69, could have died at any time from the diabetes, heart, circulation and lung conditions which affected his mobility and quality of life, the Bradford hearing was told.

One night in October last year, he drove to Ilkley Moor and shot himself in the chest with one of his own shotguns, causing instant death.

His body was discovered by his wife Christine who had gone looking for him after arriving at their home in Middleton Avenue, Ilkley, and finding a note on the kitchen table informing her where he had gone. The note instructed her to call the police and to contact a funeral director.

In a statement read to the inquest yesterday, Mrs Martinez said that her husband believed in euthanasia for people whose quality of life had seriously diminished. He had also spoken about suicide.

Mr Martinez, who was retired, had suffered two heart attacks and strokes which had severely affected the life of the former keen sportsman and political activist.

Pathologist John O'Dowd told the hearing that Mr Martinez had discharged the shotgun into his chest.

One of Mr Martinez's hobbies had been shooting and the inquest was told he owned five guns.

Coroner Roger Whitaker recorded a verdict that Mr Martinez took his own life.

After the hearing, Mrs Martinez said in a statement: "This was the calm and considered act of a man who lived his life to the full, but also passionately believed in people having the choice to end life when quality no longer exists.

"As his family we are very proud that he had the courage to act according to his beliefs."

Mr Martinez and his wife were the co-founders of wine company Martinez Fine Wines.