BUILDING firm boss Nigel Hamilton shot himself in the head in a remote field after becoming depressed over a business deal and his health, an inquest heard.

Mr Hamilton, 60, of Foss Lodge, Grittleton, shot himself with his own shotgun at Four Acres, a field between Grittleton and Sherston, on September 26, concluded coroner William Bache, sitting in Chippenham yesterday.

The inquest heard Mr Hamilton was a partner in a building firm but had become concerned over a wrangle over settlement boundaries to a house his company was building in Wootton Bassett.

He was also on medication for problems with his feet and knees, which hindered his walking.

At 11am on September 25 Mr Hamilton visited his daughter Rebecca, 22, a bar manager at The White Hart pub, in Ford, near Chippenham, to say he was thinking of taking his own life.

Miss Hamilton told the inquest her father had said before that he contemplated suicide, and would use his own gun, but told no one of the conversation on September 25 because she was sworn to secrecy.

"What he had to say was to remain between the two of you, he stated he was in despair and could not go on anymore and was going to end his life," said Mr Bache.

Miss Hamilton, who lives in Acton Turville, said her mother, Lynne Hamilton, called her at 1.30pm the next day to say her father was missing.

Mr Hamilton's business partner, Marcus Hurcumber, said he last saw Mr Hamilton leaving the site of the Wootton Bassett job on the afternoon of September 26.

In a statement read to the court, Mr Hurcumber said: "He shook my hand and said I am off now, make sure you make the most of that house."

He said his partner had been worried about the construction.

Mrs Hamilton said her husband was a man who liked his own company and suffered from occasional bouts of depression.

She said he was also prone to drinking a lot during certain periods.

She said she last saw him leave for work at 7.30am on September 25.

PC Martin Alvis, of Malmesbury police, told the inquest that Mr Hamilton's body was found next to his pick-up truck. Ten empty eight packs of paracetamol and a partly consumed bottle of whisky were found in the truck.

Mr Bache said his verdict was that Mr Hamilton killed himself.