A depressed father who was estranged from his wife hanged himself above a railway line, an inquest heard.

Gardener and general trader Joseph Varey, 41, was living with members of his family at a caravan park in Greenfield Lane, Bierley, Bradford, when he went out one afternoon without saying where he was going.

His worried family called police when he failed to return by late evening.

Officers found Mr Varey's van abandoned at Euroway Trading Estate off the M606 motorway, south of Odsal the next morning.

A short time later, the father of four was discovered by his brother, Philip, hanging from a tree in an isolated spot over a railway line in Low Moor.

At the inquest at Bradford Coroner's Court today, Alan Pritchard, senior coroner's officer, said: "He was going through marital problems, his wife left with the children to the seaside and he was on medication for depression, having seen a doctor, but appeared to be gradually improving. It was a great surprise and shock to the family."

Coroner Roger Whittaker recorded a suicide verdict and said a police investigation concluded that there were no suspicious circumstances.

He said: "The post mortem revealed that there was some evidence of natural disease present but it did not contribute to his death. He went to an isolated spot and there can be nothing else in his mind but to end his own life."