A MAN took cyanide after being 'unable to carry on' after his wife's death, an inquest heard.

Allan Charnley killed himself with the poison just two months after his wife Elaine died following after an illness.

The court heard Mr Charnley, 49, was admitted to Blackburn Royal Infirmary a month before his death after attempting suicide.

Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley coroner Andre Rebello told the court the double deaths were 'exceptionally tragic'.

PC Lyn Kelly said several notes were found with Mr Charnley's body at his home in Bamford Crescent, Accrington.

PC Kelly said that in one of the notes Mr Charnley had referred to being unable to carry on living.

She confirmed that Mrs Charnley had died in December last year, while Mr Bamford tried to kill himself in January and was eventually found dead in bed on February 28.

A post mortem examination revealed Mr Charnley, a former project engineer who had a history of depression, had been drinking on the day of his death.

A report by toxicologist Dr Mike France stated Mr Charnley was moderately drunk, but he had also taken four times the amount of cyanide normally found in fatalities.

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