FARMER Bob Griffiths, who had suffered with long-term depression, has been found dead with a gunshot wound. It's believed the father-of-two, who would have been 40 on Saturday, took his own life.

He ran farms in Woodborough and Manningford and it was at the latter that his body was discovered in a shed on Monday.

Mr Griffiths, who lived at Church Farm in Woodborough, had been married for 15 years and had two children, Peter, ten, and Louise, eight.

His death was a second blow for his widow Liz whose father John Waite, who had farmed in the Pewsey Vale all his life, died last year.

Police are investigating the tragedy and the Wiltshire coroner David Masters was due to open an inquest yesterday afternoon.

Mrs Griffiths said her husband had suffered with depression for a considerable time, although he only sought medical help last year.

He had spent some time in hospital and on his release had said he was determined to spend more time with his children.

Mr Griffiths had recently started taking his son and daughter swimming and dropping them off at the village school in the mornings.

His two loves in life, said Mrs Griffiths, were his family and farming.

He was born near Chippenham where he went to school before going to the former Lackham College of Agriculture, now Wiltshire College.

At college he became friendly with Mrs Griffiths' brother through whom he met his wife; they eventually married 15 years ago.

Mrs Griffiths was born into farming and after the couple married they moved into Church Farm at Woodborough, which had previously been run by her bachelor uncle.

Mr Griffiths was a hard working hands-on farmer who took his turn, as his wife still does, at relief milking on their 420 acres which are largely dairy. Mrs Griffiths said: "His whole life revolved about the farm."

Recently his depression worsened and about a year ago he attempted to take his life by swallowing an agricultural poison containing cyanide. Thanks to prompt treatment by paramedics, Mr Griffiths survived and was able to continue farming.

After the previous suicide attempt, police asked Mr Griffiths to surrender his shooting licence and guns, which he did.

On Monday he was killed by a homemade device containing a shotgun cartridge.

Mr Griffiths was a quiet man who had only a few close friends.

He was fond of shooting and was a member of the Rushall Shoot, a local syndicate. Previously he played badminton at the Pewsey Leisure Centre.

He attended the parish church and served as a member of the Woodborough Parish Council.

His widow said that like all farmers, they had suffered as agriculture in Britain went into the doldrums but they had pulled through and recently invested in a new dairy unit.

The outbreak of foot and mouth had added to their problems as they isolated themselves to ensure outsiders did not bring the disease onto the farm.

Mrs Griffiths said: "He shut himself in for three months during the foot and mouth epidemic and he never went out at all."

Although farming suicides have been running at record levels in the UK as agricultural fortunes have plummeted, a spokesman for the National Farmers' Union said it appeared that Mr Griffiths' illness did not relate to any work problems.

The spokesman said: "From the information we have received this was not an industry related condition but, regardless, it was very sad and tragic as any deaths in a small farming community are."

Woodborough vicar the Rev Vanda Rowe said Mr Griffiths was a well respected and loved member of the community and was part of a close and loving family.

Mr Griffiths did not leave any note or letter about his intentions. Details of the funeral, which will be followed by cremation, will be announced later. Mr Griffiths is survived by his wife and two children, his parents and one brother.