THE probable last hours of missing milkman Colin Patchett were described at an inquest at Burnley.

Mr Patchett was last seen in lightweight clothing in a remote moorland area above Nelson on a bitterly cold evening on November 7, 1997. He was crying but refused a lift home.

He was not seen again for more than two and a half years, when a skeleton was found in a remote exposed area higher on the moor.

East Lancashire Coroner David Smith, was told Mr Patchett had suffered from severe depression after giving up his milkround.

Bernard Wilson, of Brunshaw Road, Burnley, said he had known Colin for nearly 20 years and that he had become very, very depressed at times after giving up work as a self-employed milkman.

At 4.50pm on November 7, 1997, he was returning home on a country road because of traffic congestion in Colne when he saw Colin near to Coldwell reservoir.

It was bitterly cold. Colin was agitated and almost crying. He refused to get into the car and became more agitated.

Mr Wilson said it did not seem a good idea to drag him into the car. He said he was OK and that he wanted to walk to get things sorted out in his head. As soon as he got home Mr Wilson told the police and a massive search, including the police helicopter, was made of the area.

The body was not found until July this year by a farmer rounding up his sheep.

Home Officer pathologist Dr William Lawler, said because of the length of time the body had been exposed he was not able to give a cause of death.

There were no marks of injury on the skeleton.

He told Mr Wilson it was certainly possible he had died from exposure after walking away from the road and tracks.

When the inquest opened his partner, Doreen Patchett, said he had severe bouts of depression since giving up his milk round and working for various security firms.

He received treatment at Burnley General Hospital and said on a number of occasions that he wanted to die.

He had made two attempts on his life and had taken an overdose the week before he went missing.

He was allowed home from hospital on the night of November 6. The following morning he said he was not going back. At 3pm he got off the settee saying: "I am going" and walked out of the house.

Mrs Patchett said she thought he was going to hospital, but later discovered he had never arrived. She never heard from him again.

Mr Smith said because the cause of death was not known he had to return an open verdict.