A painter and decorator who was found hanged at his home has been described as a “devoted and caring man” during an inquest today.

Wayne Lewis, 49, was found hanging above the upstairs landing of his Codicote Drive home by his son.

Mr Lewis, who was a widow following the death of his wife Pauline, had experienced “relationship problems” before his death a coroner said at the inquest.

Hertfordshire Coroners' Court heard his son Daniel had left the Watford home at around 9am on the morning of Saturday, May 31.

When he returned he found his father hanged.

He immediately phoned for an ambulance and the police.

The court heard a note written by Mr Lewis was found in the kitchen apologising to Daniel and asking him to look after the family dog.

Reading out a family statement, Hertfordshire’s coroner Edward Thomas, said: “Wayne was a very gentle man.

“He was a devoted father, he had been devoted to his wife who died suddenly and what happened was very, very unexpected.“ A post mortem found Mr Lewis had not been suffering from any other medical condition and recorded his cause death as suspension.

He was not found to have any significant amount of alcohol in his body. The coroner recorded that Mr Lewis had taken his own life.

Summing up, he told Mr Lewis’ family: “I would like to say that from everything I have read about Wayne he seemed a really nice person and he must be missed.

“He seemed a really devoted man and for you Daniel I can’t imagine what you have been through.”

Mr Thomas added: “I just want to say I am really sorry for you.”