Retired property developer Jeremy Fox, 68, committed suicide at his semi-detached home in York on August 19 after he left a heart-breaking note to his brother, Christopher, saying he had "decided to end it".

Bachelor Mr Fox had been diagnosed with inoperable liver cancer in June. He set about putting his financial affairs in order and wrote a will.

He also left a note for the coroner to confirm that he
had intended to take his life.

The inquest in York heard that Mr Fox's brother had been unable to reach him by telephone so visited his house and discovered the bedroom where he kept a large collection of guns and ammunition was locked.

Fearing the worst, he called police who found Mr Fox slumped on his bed with a gunshot wound to the head.

Recording a verdict of suicide, coroner Donald Coverdale said: "It is very clear Mr Fox intended to take his own life, motivated no doubt by his terminal cancer.

"He formed a very clear and rational intention to take his own life."

Mr Fox was involved for more than 30 years in a family firearms store in York and held a firearms certificate and dealer's licence until it was sold in April 1988.

In 1989 he appeared in court after police broke into his flat and found weapons and ammunition scattered throughout the premises.

York magistrates heard that some of the weapons had come into Mr Fox's possession during a nationwide firearms amnesty, when many people were reluctant to give guns to the police.

He admitted having in his possession a large quantity of firearms and ammunition without a certificate and was given a three-month prison sentence, suspended for a
year.

Magistrates said that it was a "very serious" offence and ordered the forfeiture of the weapons and the ammunition.

Mr Fox was an outspoken supporter of guns and regularly wrote to local newspapers calling for the liberalisation of the law to allow home owners to protect their families and property.

None of his relatives attended yesterday's inquest.