MYSTERY still surrounds the death of a Ribble Valley farmer who was found dead from gunshot wounds to the head.

Home Office pathologist Dr John Rutherford's report to the inquest in Blackburn said the distribution of the injuries and the absence of any other trauma suggested the farmer had shot himself.

But Andrew Martin Gummersall's parents told the inquest they did not know of any reason why their son would take his life.

Mr Richard Gummersall said on the Sunday he died his son had milked the farm's 55 cows as usual, eaten his breakfast and gone out without saying anything of significance.

Andrew, 36, was found by police in a woodland gulley near the family farm in Hothersall Lane, Longridge.

He was lying against a tree with a shotgun across his body. A report from the family's GP who had treated Andrew for painful heels said the farmer had no history of mental health problems and his death had come as a surprise. Andrew's parents told Blackburn, Hyndburn and Ribble Valley coroner Andre Rebello their son had talked of being forced to leave farming because of the problems which had hit the industry over the last 12 months but said he had not mentioned any other profession and was basically a cheerful person who had no real worries.

The family told the inquest they had come to Lancashire from West Yorkshire 12 years ago and their son had never talked of any other profession than farming.

Recording an open verdict, Mr Rebello said he was not satisfied Mr Gummersall had intended to take his own life but there was insufficient evidence to suggest an accident.

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