A MAN who hanged himself in woodland was found by two teenage boys riding their bikes, an inquest heard.

Dennis Crothall, 76, of Thong Lane, Gravesend, was discovered on September 9, in a wooded area by the boys aged 14 and 17, who were riding along the Shorne Ifield Road.

The inquest heard how the boys raised the alarm at a nearby house.

In a statement by Mr Crothall’s widow, Margaret, which was read by North Kent Coroner Roger Hatch, the inquest heard that on the day he died, he woke as normal, going to buy a paper before the couple went out shopping. But he had complained of feeling tired and a little fed up.

DC Chris Mason said Mrs Crothall believed that when her husband left the house in the afternoon, he was going to his greenhouse.

He said: “Mrs Crothall thought he was going to water the plants in his greenhouse. Before going out, he had unusually removed his watch, wedding ring and wallet and left those in his bedroom.”

When he did not return home, Mrs Crothall became concerned and telephoned the police.

The coroner said he believed Mr Crothall had planned to take his own life and recorded a verdict of suicide.