A 38-year-old chef was found hanging at his Church home just minutes after giving his wife a kiss, an inquest heard.

The hearing was told that Alexander Byard and his wife Michelle had been to view a house in Oswaldtwistle earlier that evening.

Michelle said they had both liked the house but when they got home her husband complained of lower back pain.

He had a can of beer with his tea and afterwards went upstairs for a bath.

She said he went upstairs about eight times during the evening and a post-mortem examination showed a level of alcohol which would have lead to “high intoxication.”

Mrs Byard, of Norfolk Grove, said she had seen her husband messing with a lace during the evening and he said he was tying some flowers back.

He later picked a rose, knelt in front of her and said: “You know I love you and the kids.”

Later, as she was ironing, he came over kissed her on the lips and asked how long she would be.

She told him about 20 minutes and after that time had passed she went to go upstairs and found him sitting on the stairs.

Mrs Byard lifted her husband’s head and then saw the lace tied around his neck.

The medical cause of death was given as hanging and deputy coroner Carolyn Singleton recorded a verdict that Mr Byard killed himself.