Lavington farmer Ed Bailey shot his ailing pet dog before turning his gun on himself, an inquest in Salisbury heard on Tuesday.

Assistant deputy coroner Clare Balysz heard that Mr Bailey, 47, had been found by members of his family at Black Dog Farm, Market Lavington, with fatal wounds inflicted by a shotgun on Sunday August 12 last year. A note in his handwriting was found close by.

Mr Bailey’s sister, Elizabeth Clare, told Ms Balysz that Mr Bailey had lived with their parents at Sugarwell Farm, Coxhill Lane, Potterne, for many years until their deaths. After his father’s death, Mr Bailey had decided to give up the farm but kept himself busy doing odd jobs for other farmers.

Mrs Clare said: “We still don’t know why he did it. He was very upset when mum died but he was one of those people who wouldn’t ask for help.”

Mrs Clare said that Mr Bailey had two dogs, one of which, Sally, had recently died and the other had become very ill and was practically blind. Mr Bailey had shot this second dog before killing himself.

Mrs Clare said she and her husband had gone for a walk and when they returned they found a note attached to a window telling them where they could find him.

William Miller, a farming contractor who had worked for Mr Bailey said: “He was a friendly, helpful, confident person.”

Ms Balysz said she was satisfied Mr Bailey had taken his own life.