A man hanged himself after suffering excruciating pain while waiting to have his wisdom tooth extracted on the NHS, an inquest has heard.

Anthony Hoskins was found dead in his flat in Southampton by police on April 3.

The 38-year-old, who worked for an employment agency and had been on an NHS waiting list to have his wisdom tooth removed.

A statement from his mother Shirley said Mr Hoskins began to complain of severe tooth ache in January.

After seeing a dentist, Mr Hoskins's condition got worse and he started taking 'large amounts' of mixed paracetamol and ibuprofen painkillers, the inquest heard.

PC Simon Collins told the hearing at Winchester Coroner's Court (pictured) police had been called by Mr Hoskins's mother, who said she had not heard from him for a couple of days and he had gone home from work with an illness the previous week

The following month Ms Hoskins began to save money so she could fund private treatment, which would cost around £1,500.

Mr Hoskins was prescribed stronger painkillers and drank a glass of whiskey a night to help him sleep.

In March, Mr Hoskins told his mother 'he'd had enough of the pain' but she told him she had saved £900 at this point and it would only be a few weeks before he could book private treatment.

'Anthony was just a normal man who got on with life,' said Ms Hoskins.

'He enjoyed playing computer games and had no financial problems. His rent was always paid, along with other utilities, and he would see me weekly.'

She added: 'Anthony is at rest now and will not suffer anymore pain.

'The really sad thing is that it cost me almost the same amount of money to pay for his death that it would have to have private dental treatment.'

PC Simon Collins told the hearing at Winchester Coroner's Court police had been called by Mr Hoskins's mother, who said she had not heard from him for a couple of days and he had gone home from work with an illness the previous week.

Officers forced entry into his top-floor flat and found him dead in his bedroom.

A bank receipt found in the address showed Mr Hoskins was overdrawn by £3,000.

He was often asking for overtime at work in the weeks prior to his death, the inquest heard.

A statement from Dr Gabriella Day, of Burgess Road Surgery, said Mr Hoskins had last visited the practice in August 2018 with a tooth ache complaint.

Pathologist Dr Eleanor Jaynes carried out a post mortem and provided a cause of death as hanging.

Acting area coroner Samantha Marsh recorded a conclusion of suicide.