A BUS driver who hanged himself two weeks after trying to end his life should have been referred to a psychiatrist after the first attempt, an inquest heard.

Andrew Holmes, 48, of Henry Whalley Street, Blackburn, was found hanged in the kitchen of his home by his friend and neighbour Michael Williams.

He had tried to take a drugs overdose two weeks earlier.

The inquest heard that Mr Holmes was usually "the life and soul of the party".

His brother Declan said: "He always had a smile on his face and nothing would have lead me to believe he would do something like this."

But he expressed his concerns over the medical help given to his brother saying: "He should have been referred to a psychiatrist after the first attempt, which none of the family knew about."

Carolyn Singleton, deputy coroner for Blackburn, Hyndburn and the Ribble Valley recorded a verdict of suicide.

She said: "This is a terribly sad case for me to have because we have been told of a man who was to all the life and soul of any party."