ANDREW Palmer hanged himself when he could no longer face any more rows with his long-term partner.

The 37-year-old had been with Corinna Sharman for 16 years but the couple had what friends described as a love-hate relationship.

The rows between the couple, who had two children, escalated and they went days without speaking and living in separate parts of their home at Dicketts Road, Corsham, an inquest was told on Wednesday.

Miss Sharman sobbed as she told Wiltshire Coroner David Masters how she had taken their daughter and gone to stay at her mother's on January 30, after Mr Palmer accused her of being an unfit mother.

Later that day her son rang her and said he could not get into the house.

Miss Sharman tried several times to telephone her partner and at 8.30pm the police were called.

Mr Palmer was found hanging on the stairs from a vehicle tow rope secured in the attic.

Miss Sharman told the inquest at Chippenham she had made it clear she would return to Mr Palmer, but needed time away from him.

His best friend Richard Midgeley, who lives in Rowde, said Mr Palmer telephoned him on January 29 and asked him to go over the following day to talk about his relationship problems.

He said: "His voice was upset but he was calm. I had seen him in a worse state in the past.

"But his eyes were different, they were like black staring discs. He did say he was at his wit's end, he didn't know which way to turn."

Mr Midgeley spent several hours with Mr Palmer.

He said: "He seemed a bit brighter when I left around 5.30pm. I asked if he was OK and he gave me the thumbs up."

But not long after Mr Palmer scribbled a note, which he left on a table in the sitting room, and hanged himself.

PC Andrew Guy, of Corsham police, said they went to the house after a call from Miss Sharman.

Her brother Gary had also gone to the house and let the officer in.

PC Guy said: "Mr Palmer had clearly been dead for some time."

A child's stool was found near his feet on the staircase.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Mr Masters said: "It is evident that there were considerable problems between him and Corinna Sharman.

But despite this they had stayed together for many years.

"The note, I believe, confirms what he was going to do."