A coroner in Shropshire believes a man who hung himself in Oswestry did not know what his own intentions were.

John Ellery, coroner for Shropshire, Telford and Wrekin, was speaking at the inquest of John Matthew Probert, known as Matthew.

Mr Probert died in Whittington Road on October 11, last year.

Mr Ellery told family members present at the inquest on Thursday – held at Shrewsbury's Shirehall – that while evidence from Detective Sergeant Alexander Sullivan would suggest Mr Probert, 36, had committed suicide, the lack of a note is one reason why he could not come to that conclusion.

"If I can't say that he intended to kill himself then I cannot reach a conclusion of suicide," said Mr Ellery.

"From my understanding of the evidence, I can't presume it was suicide. I think he hanged himself with unknown intent.

"I am not going to say an open conclusion as it wasn't open to anything else. It was Matthew and no-one else was involved."

Mr Ellery recorded a conclusion that Mr Probert hanged himself with unknown intent.