A man who killed himself with cyanide sparked a major chemical alert in Ashford.

Police, firefighters and ambulance personnel were called and the area around his home at Manorfield, Singleton, was sealed off.

Robert Mooney killed himself just before he was due to answer bail at a police station, an inquest in Folkestone heard.

Acting DS Darren Manktelow, from Kent Police, said: "A note was found at his home saying there was a teacup with potassium cyanide. There was concern for the safety of people and a chemical incident was declared."

Mr Mooney, 58, was found dead at his home on May 16 last year.

DS Mantelow said Mr Mooney had failed to report to police that day, although it was not revealed what he was on bail for.

Mr Mooney's solicitor then turned up at his home at 1.30pm and saw him through the window, lying on a sofa.

After speaking to ambulance control on the phone, he got inside the property with the help of a nearby builder, and police and the ambulance service arrived shortly afterwards.

Paramedics pronounced Mr Mooney dead at the scene and the note warning of the cyanide was found.

DS Manktelow said another note by Mr Mooney, written the day before, was found saying he had a good life, good friends and had travelled.

Mr Mooney was a laboratory technician and his note revealed he had obtained the poison from work and if depressed he would take it.

DS Manktelow added: "Police believe that he took his own life by ingesting cyanide."

Central and East Kent Coroner Rachel Redman recorded a verdict of suicide and said: "He intended to take his own life by using cyanide from work that he stored to end his life at some stage in the future."