A ‘FAMILY man’ had been going through marital difficulties before he took his own life, an inquest has heard.

Father-of-two Neil Barker, 46, was found dead in a cellar at his Ross-on-Wye home on November 14 last year.

A Hereford inquest heard that Mr Barker had no previous mental health problems, but had told his GP that he was distressed about problems in his marriage.

He was considered a low to moderate risk by his GP and given medication for his depression and insomnia.

The inquest heard he had been in an argument or discussion the day before he died with his wife, Alison.

In a statement released to the Hereford Times, Mr Barker’s dad, Mike Barker, said: “The despair we feel for the loss of our son is immeasurable.”

His sister, Lynne Fulton, said: “The loss of my brother leaves such a gap in my life. I will never forget him.”

Coroner Mark Bricknell, said marital difficulties may or may not have been the cause of action taken by Mr Barker.

He recorded that he took his own life.