A man discovered hanging from a tree in a graveyard opposite an Accrington school was being hunted by police, an inquest heard.

Luke Young, 35, was found at around 7am on November 18 last year in Dill Hall Lane Cemetery by a member of the public.

At the time his body was visible to passing pupils who were on their way into St Christopher's High School.

Horrified schoolchildren were offered counselling following the incident and the body was removed three hours later while police carried out checks.

During an inquest at King George's Hall in Blackburn on Tuesday a coroner heard from Mr Young's wife Tami, 32, and PC Paul Lamport – who was the first officer at the Dill Hall Lane scene on November 18.

Mrs Young told the inquest how her husband - a landscape gardener who lived on Saddle Bar caravan park, Kings Lynn, Norfolk - left home on November 16.

She said: "He seemed alright. He didn't say where he was going to though."

Coroner Michael Singleton then asked Mrs Young whether her husband had been accused of something that had been given to the police.

Mrs Young confirmed that her husband hadn't been arrested but was aware police wanted to speak to him - to which the coroner replied: "Allegations are all they will ever be."

The inquest heard how Mrs Young's sister was the last person Mr Young spoke with prior to his death.

Mrs Young also said Dill Hall Lane Cemetery was somewhere her Manchester-born husband visited "from time to time" as his father was buried there.

A statement by PC Paul Lamport was read out at the inquest.

It said: "At approximately 7.22am on November 18 while on full uniform mobile patrol duties I attended Dill Hall Lane Cemetery – whereby a male had reported that he had found a male hanging from a tree facing towards St Christopher's High School. I entered through the main gates and made my way in.

"As I approached the trees I could see a set of stepladders on the grass and a body hanging from the trees. I could see a male aged approximately 30-years-old.

"I checked the body for signs of life. I identified the male as Luke Young who had been identified as a high risk missing person in Norfolk.

"There was a stepladder near to the tree. It was on its side on the grass. On the authority of the coroner the body was later removed to the mortuary," he added.

A pathologist statement gave the cause of death as hanging and revealed there was evidence of a therapeutic amount of paracetamol in Mr Young's body - but not enough to affect his mental state.

Summarising, Coroner Michael Singleton, said: "I'm satisfied that it was approximately 7am on November 18 that Luke Young was found hanging from a tree in a cemetery at Dill Hall Lane, Accrington, close to his father's grave.

"I'm sure no other person was involved in this man's death. The conclusion I reach is that Luke Young killed himself," he added.