A digger driver from west Hull hanged himself after losing his job, an inquest heard.

Patrick McLaughlin, 52, was found hanged at his estranged wife Margaret's home on 22nd Avenue, west Hull, on February 14.

He had been made redundant when the company he was working for went into liquidation in August last year. Mrs McLaughlin told the court: "He tried everywhere and I think it just got to him. There was nothing out there. He was a proud man who was used to working."

Mrs McLaughlin said he had been due to start a job on the day of his death, but it was delayed because of bad weather. She said: "He said 'That's the last straw. There's nothing out there'.

"He was so depressed. He had never been like that before."

Assistant deputy coroner Paul Stott said he was unable to be sure Mr McLaughlin had intended to end his life after hearing he had "pretended" to hang himself in the past.

Mr Stott said: "I could not rule out the possibility he pretended again, but unfortunately this went tragically wrong."

He recorded a verdict of accidental death.