An RSPCA inspector used a pistol to kill himself after becoming depressed over the death of his mother-in-law.

Terrence Winston, 53, worked for the animal welfare charity for 22 years and was licensed to carry the gun to put down animals in distress.

An inquest in Oxford yesterday was told that Mr Winston drove his RSPCA Vauxhall Astra to a lake off the road between Merton and Islip on January 30, and shot himself in the head.

Mr Winston's wife of 30 years, Margaret, said he had been depressed for some time, especially since the death of her mother in April last year.

She said: "Since the death of my father, my mother had lived with us for the past 22 years. We were a very close family and she treated him as a son. Her death affected him very deeply."

Mrs Winston said she and her husband, of Timms Road, Banbury, had become depressed following the death. She had visited her doctor, who had prescribed anti-depressant tablets. She said: "We were both disturbed greatly but my husband just kept saying he was okay. I kept asking him if he was okay, because it was obvious he was down, but he was never a great talker so it was difficult to get him to say much."

She said that he left their home as normal on January 30 and was seen by a friend of the family on his way to help a sheep that was ill.

His body was found by Margaret Calcutt, of Astley Bridge Farm, near Merton.

She saw his van parked next to the lake, which belonged to her farm, soon after 10am and saw Mr Winston slumped over inside.

She flagged down a passing Royal Mail van, and the driver, Stephen Dicks, of Springfield Road, Banbury, called the police. In a statement, Mr Dicks said Mr Winston left notes to the police and to his family.

Det Sgt Robert Gray said a 999 call was received at 10.04am from Mr Winston. He said: "He told the operator that he was going to commit suicide and that he was sorry, but that no-one else was involved in his death."

Coroner Nicholas Gardiner said: "I am satisfied that Mr Winston had decided to take his own life and, taking all the evidence into account, I record a verdict that he took his own life."