A landscape gardener hanged himself over fears of losing his business, a coroner found.

Ronald Sedgley was found in the woods behind The Crimble restaurant in Heywood on September 1 last year, days after worried loved ones reported him missing.

The 63-year-old, who ran his own landscaping gardening venture, was discovered after a five-day search by police and relatives.

In a statement, fiancée Denise Barlow said he was suffering with stress in the year preceding his death, caused by financial concerns over his business and his ambitions to build a family home.

She said he was drinking more heavily than usual and had been prescribed anti-depressants by his GP.

Miss Barlow said Mr Sedgley had left home to be on his own before, but that he had always returned her calls.

She grew concerned when he went out on Friday, August 28 with his two dogs and could not be contacted.

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Miss Barlow’s nephew, Jake Owens, found Mr Sedgley’s body in the secluded woodland after one of the dogs was found by his friend, who worked at The Crimble.

A toxicology report found that Mr Sedgley had drunk alcohol prior to his death - with blood and urine alcohol levels suggesting he had consumed the equivalent of around five or six pints of beer.

Coroner, Simon Nelson, found that Mr Sedgley had taken his own life while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

Mr Nelson said: “Not unlike many males, Mr Sedgley was very much one who would tend to keep his feelings and thoughts to himself. It is much easier when people are able to open up, preferably to a professional.”

Mr Sedgley attended Mossfield School and trained to become a toolmaker, as well as spending some time in the Army.

He had worked in various jobs - including demolition and turfing - before setting up his own firm in 1981, and was described by loved ones as a ‘grafter’.

As well as gardening and his dogs, he loved walking, played the guitar and sang.

After the inquest, Mr Sedgley’s family said the hearing had brought them closure and they hoped that Mr Sedgley could now rest in peace.

Mr Nelson praised senior investigating officer DI Lee Hopwood and his team at Greater Manchester Police for a ‘very thorough investigation’.