A 54-year-old man found by two young girls hanging from a tree in woods had a letter from a debt collecting agency in his pocket.

The letter threatened legal action unless Lauri Antero Murtolahe paid back more than £2,000, an inquest was told.

Mr Murtola, of St James’ Road, Grain, near Rochester, took his own life, North Kent coroner Roger Sykes decided. He died from suspension.

DS Simon Thompson, of Chatham Police, said Mr Murtola, who worked as a builder, had a history of depression. He had tried to take his life once before by means of an overdose.

When they learned that he had been found dead, his family was shocked, but not surprised. A work colleague had said he was a man who "always looked on the down side".

Mr Murtola, born in Finland, was found dead in a very secluded part of a wood next to Green Lane, Grain, on June 14. He had last been seen four days before. But his family was used to him disappearing for a few days when he became depressed.

The coroner said that although Mr Murtola had significant levels of alcohol in his blood, it had no bearing on his death.