A 'worrier' who feared he was becoming addicted to gambling took his own life just days after Christmas, an inquest heard.

Peter Charnley of Maple Street, Barrow was found hanged in his bathroom by paramedics on Saturday January 2.

Concerned family members first raised the alarm with police after he failed to show up to a traditional New Year's Day family meal at his parents house, just minutes away.

Mr Charnley's niece Kelly Lindley gave evidence at the inquest.

She said: "You couldn't have met a nicer man and I never knew him to talk badly about anyone.

"He thought he had been flashed by a speed camera in Roose and worried a ticket would affect his job and said his 'head was mashed'.

"He also worried about money and about losing his job and not paying his rent."

The 49-year-old was in and out of work after first being made redundant from Pickerings Scaffolding in 2014 and wanted to make a fresh start in a different sector.

Miss Lindley told the inquest how her uncle confided in her, worrying that he had a problem with roulette despite having no gambling debts.

She also mentioned a conversation in which her 49-year-old uncle claimed he was laughed at by staff when he was made redundant in December- something which was strongly denied by staff at Pickerings.

Coroner Robert Chapman said: "Peter Charnley kept himself to himself and was quite a worrier.

"The action that he took was a very clear one and it was not a cry for help.

"It is a very clear way to kill yourself, so I am satisfied he wanted to, but why?

"Well, I don't know that answer to that.

"You never know what is in people's minds I'm afraid."

Speaking after the inquest Eric and Ann Charnley described their son as a "lovely lad" who was a passionate Manchester United fan and spent much of his time with his family.