THE stepfather of a farm worker found hanging in a barn at his home told an inquest his death had come as "a bolt from the blue."

Simon Dalglish discovered stepson Scott Andrew Pighills, 23, in a building used as a sheep shed at Admergill Hall Farm, Blacko, in the early hours of September 28 last year.

Mr Pighills was working on the farm while applying to join the British Transport Police.

He had recently returned to the country after travelling the world, including Australia, America and Europe.

The inquest heard he had become depressed following the death of his uncle but working on the farm seemed to have cheered him up.

A former member of the Air Cadets at Nelson and student at Nelson and Colne College, Mr Pighills had worked at Newmark's factory in Padiham for four years before deciding to join the Metropolitan Police, but was told he needed more experience. It was this that prompted a year's trip to Australia in 2000, the inquest heard.

Although he returned to the UK following his uncle's death in January 2001, Mr Pighills continued to travel in the UK and Europe and often stayed with friends in Oxford and London.

He had spent last Christmas at home with his family who said he seemed "on top form" and was completing his application to join the police.

Mr Dalglish said: "This came as a bolt out of the blue, it was absolutely unbelievable. He was such an intelligent young man who was ready to go out and face the world.

"This has come as such a big shock to everybody. He had so many friends. People came from all over the world to his funeral."

Acting Coroner Richard Taylor recorded a verdict that Mr Pighills had taken his own life.