“Suicide pacts” between couples are becoming increasingly common, a coroner has warned, as people seek to take control of the end of their lives in the absence of state-sanctioned assisted dying.

David Ridley, the coroner for Wiltshire and Swindon, made the remarks during the inquest into the deaths of Claudia Forbes, 62, and her husband 72-year-old Andrew Forbes.

Mr Forbes, known by his middle name Ian, and his wife were found dead in their bed at their home at Horsepools Cottage, part of Eastleigh Farm in Warminster, Wiltshire, on December 7 last year.

The inquest was told the decomposed bodies were found at Horsepools Cottage which Mrs Forbes rented next to Eastleigh Farm at picturesque Bishopstrow.

It is understood that she once worked as a customer services manager for the Longleat Estate.

Police officers found the couple after their landlord, local farmer Alexander Walker, raised concerns about Mrs Forbes’ welfare. He said: “It was quite a shock.”

The couple had rented the cottage since 2014, and were discovered by their landlord after he became worried when they had not collected their post from the main house for several days.

Mr Forbes had advanced chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), while his wife was generally in good health but had early signs of the same disease.

Two mugs containing a powdery residue were found next to the bed, the inquest heard.

A toxicology report later found the pair had taken lethal overdoses.

Mr Forbes’ children from his first marriage described the couple as private and inward looking, adding that they mostly tended to meet up as a family for birthdays.

The coroner said there was no evidence of any third party involvement, and said he was satisfied that both of them were capable of taking the combination of drugs without assistance.

“Colloquially we would call it a ‘suicide pact’,” Mr Ridley said.

“They thought about it and being private people it seems they made a decision, and increasingly we are seeing this now.”

Mr Ridley continued: “People want to take control over the end of their lives into their own hands – maybe that is a failing on the part of parliament that they don’t provide support for people.”

He remarked that the UK did not have anything equivalent to the Swiss assisted dying clinic Dignitas.

“We as a coroner’s service do see this now increasingly where people want to take control at the end of life rather that place their faith and safety and comfort in other people,” Mr Ridley said.

“It is a possibility that Claudia felt without Ian, because they were such a close knit couple, she didn’t want to be on this planet any longer and that is why they took the action they did.”

Mr Ridley offered his condolences to Mrs and Mrs Forbes’ family.

– The Samaritans can be contacted on 116123 or email jo@samaritans.org