THE LIFELESS body of a chef was found hanging from the rafters at a Bradford on Avon pub.

Fernando Ricardo Franco, 40, had been working at The Kings Arms, in Silver Street, for less than a week when landlord John Williams found him in an upstairs flat hanging from the roof by a piece of rope.

The grim discovery was made last Friday morning at 11am and the pub was shut down for the day while police and forensic officers were called in to investigate.

Mr Franco's family, including his brother from Yorkshire and his father who lives in Panama, have been alerted to the incident.

Bar manager Jenny Brown said Mr Franco, who was given the chef's job a week before he died, went to bed around midnight on Thursday but suspicions were raised when he failed to turn up to work on Friday morning. Speaking about how the tragedy has affected staff she said: "It has been one hell of a week and has left everyone in a state of shock.

"He seemed like a very nice guy and showed no signs of depression but obviously he had a lot of personal problems that we didn't know about. Even during the night before he seemed fine.

"John is dealing with it in his own way. It was a nasty thing to find.

"We have been pretty honest with customers and told them what happened.

"It has been the talk of the town but we are just trying to get back to normal."

Police confirmed they attended the pub on Friday but no suspicious circumstances were found.

Wiltshire Coroner David Masters opened and adjourned an inquest into Mr Franco's death at a hearing on Wednesday.

The pub, which sits on the corner of Coppice Street and Silver Street, recently underwent a massive refurbishment project.

Bar areas were completely revamped and the restaurant was one of the areas given a new lease of life.

Landlord Mr Williams also runs the Bunch of Grapes pub in Silver Street.