A coroner has expressed concern after the body of a sixth man who is thought to have killed himself was found in the Staffordshire village of Gnosall.

Terry Ball, 35, a carpenter, is believed to have hanged himself at his home in the village at the weekend.

He takes to six the number of suspected suicides in Gnosall, which has a population of only 4,000, in the past year.

Ball lived with his wife in the same street as Peter Forrester, a lorry driver who committed suicide with an overdose seven months ago.

Detective Sergeant Chris White of Staffordshire police said: "Officers attended a home on Audmore Road, Gnosall, at 8am on Saturday November 24.

"A 35-year-old man, Terry Ball, was officially pronounced dead at the scene.

"It is not believed there are any suspicious circumstances surrounding the death."

The six deaths are not thought to be linked and have been investigated separately.

Last December, Craig Parsons, 40, a postman, was found hanged after leaving three suicide notes showing he was not coping.

Four months later, a 35-year-old widower, Peter Forrester, died after overdosing on his deceased wife's heart medication. His brother, John, said of Gnosall, a rural settlement made up of small cobbled streets and Tudor cottages: "Some people say the place is cursed, but I don't think so. I'm sure things will get better."

A third resident, Nigel Buckley-Robins, 50, died of an overdose of pethidine - a painkiller - and alcohol in April.

He had a history of violence brought on by alcohol abuse and battled depression.

The coroner said at the inquest: "Alcohol was his downfall and I am satisfied he intended to kill himself."

The Staffordshire South coroner, Andrew Haigh, recorded a verdict of suicide in all three deaths.

Later this year, Jessica Littleton, 17, was found hanged, and an open verdict recorded by the coroner.

In August, Ian Gould, 75, was also found hanged. He is said never to have recovered from the death of his wife. The coroner has not yet recorded a verdict.

Haigh said: "I am concerned why there have been so many fatalities of this kind in such a small village."

An official cause of death for Ball has not been established, the coroner's office said.

One villager, Doreen Sheldrake, 63, said the area needed spiritual leadership. "We need someone who people with problems can talk to. We've not had a vicar for about two years but a new one is due to arrive shortly. Hopefully he can provide some spiritual leadership."

A special church service was convened three weeks ago to support people affected by the earlier deaths.

Jim McGregor, a warden, said: "We invited all the people in the village who had lost someone to attend. As well as reading out their names a candle was lit, hymns were sung and prayers read out. The deaths have been a shock to everyone."

Beer-mats advertising the Samaritans helpline have been placed in the village's pubs.

A new health centre was finished last year in Gnosall to provide services for the rapidly expanding population in the large village, located between Birmingham, Stoke-on-Trent and Telford in the Midlands.

The first reference to Gnosall, situated on the banks of the Shropshire union canal, is in the Domesday Book where it was called Geneshale.