A 58-year-old man hanged himself just four weeks after be-ing diagnosed with lung cancer, an inquest heard.

The hearing was told that Raymond Foote had taken a potentially lethal dose of prescribed pain killers prior to suspending himself from a metal ladder placed across the stairs.

The discovery was made by his wife, Barbara Foote, who told the inquest that with hindsight she felt her husband had known what he was going to do.

"The week before he made me write down instructions for closing our caravan down for the winter and that was something he always did," said Mrs Foote, of Sandon Street, Black-burn.

The inquest heard that Mr Foote had been diagnosed with lung cancer and a post-mortem examination showed this had spread into his abdomen and other organs.

He had been prescribed tramadol for pain relief and had taken 13 of these tablets imm-ediately before hanging himself.

The toxicologist's report said this would have resulted in serious toxicity, potentially leading to death, but medical cause of death was hanging.

Mrs Foote said her husband had not properly discussed what the doctor had revealed about the extent of his cancer and whether it was treatable.

On the day of his death, Mrs Foote rang her husband from her work in Preston and he said he was in pain and had taken 13 tablets, although he was only meant to take a maximum of three a day.

He asked what time their son James would be home and what bus she would be catching When she got home Mrs Foote found her husband suspended by an orange rope round his neck. He had left two notes.

Coroner Michael Singleton recorded a verdict that Mr Foote killed himself.