A Renault Formula One worker who shot himself in the head feared he could be sacked, an inquest heard today.

William Millar, 53, of Bushey Ground, Minster Lovell, had been receiving treatment for stress and depression associated with work and with caring for his wife, Valerie, who suffers from multiple sclerosis.

An inquest at Oxford Coroner's Court heard that Mr Millar's behaviour prior to July 30, when he killed himself with a shotgun in a track behind Renault's Whiteways Technical Centre, had attracted concern from colleagues and family members.

A statement from operations manager John Mardle, which was read to the inquest, said he had problems at home of his own and with his children and he did tend to bottle up things with his wife. He seemed to switch off in meetings and start humming.

Mr Mardle said Mr Millar had had a meeting the previous day where it was planned to move him from his role as a research and development manager to a workshop technician.

His wife said he had told her the night before he thought he would lose his job.

He was found by colleagues after they saw him go on to the track with something concealed in a black bin bag. They then heard a shot being fired.

Oxford coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded a verdict that Mr Millar took his own life.