A MAN from Warcop, near Appleby, who was suffering from cancer, killed himself with a shotgun and left a suicide note, an inquest heard.

Michael George Heelis, 53, a land agent, left a "beautifully expressed letter" in the back pocket of his trousers, which was found after he died, the inquest at Appleby police station heard.

The inquest heard the note, on personalised headed paper, was signed Dad'.

Eden coroner Ian Morton told Mr Heelis's wife, Philippa: "Your husband left a beautifully expressed letter. I just need you to confirm that it is in your husband's handwriting."

Mrs Heelis said it was and added: "It was an unusual letter. It was very gentle and kind. He was the most gentle, kind, considerate person there ever was."

Mr Morton said: "In view of the note which Mr Heelis left, I'm left in no doubt that he did intend the consequence of his action and that this was indeed a deliberate act of taking his own life."

Earlier, Mrs Heelis told the court the chemotherapy her husband underwent had affected him but he appeared to be over the worst.

Sergeant Warwick told the court he was called to Eden Vale, Warcop, at 11.20am on Sunday, June 6.

"The lady of the house (Mrs Heelis) had found the husband in the garden with serious wounds to his head," he said, adding that a blood-soaked shotgun lay 40 to 50 feet away.

The court heard Mr Heelis had had a normal breakfast and he and his wife had talked about their plans for the day. Mr Heelis went into the garden and later came back, saying he needed a rest, the court heard. Some time later, Mrs Heelis heard a gunshot she attributed to a nearby army base but, when she could not find her husband, she began to search for him.

She found him, the court heard, in a gap in the hedge at the bottom of the garden, with severe facial injuries but still alive. He was later pro-nounced dead at the scene, the inquest heard.

The coroner recorded a verdict of suicide.