On Wednesday Wakefield Coroner's Court heard the family of Michael Anthony Gould, of Ledger Place, had not heard from him in a few days and were extremely worried.

After he failed to return their calls, his brother, Sean Douglas Gould, forced his way through a first-floor window to find Mr Gould lying unconscious on the floor.

He called an ambulance but paramedics pronounced Mr Gould dead shortly after they arrived.

Assistant deputy coroner Mary Burke told the court that Mr Gould had always been a fit and active man who used to work as a landscape gardener.

She said: "In 1995 he had a car accident and suffered from brain injuries which caused him to suffer from anxiety and depression.

"He was known to be very overweight."

Commenting on his mental state, she said that at the time of his death Mr Gould's family said he had been looking forward to a trip to Australia later this year.

She adjourned the inquest and said although there were no suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Gould's death, further tests would be needed to establish the exact cause.