MENTAL health specialists have come under fire after discharging a man who hanged himself a week later at his home in Haslington.

Coroner Nicholas Rheinberg criticised the Cheshire and Wirral Part-nership NHS Trust for failing to make an accurate assessment about the mental state of Crewe librarian David Hearn.

An inquest heard how his wife Jean, a college lecturer, returned home to Primrose Avenue on March 1 to find him hanging by a tow rope from the loft hatch. After frantically cutting him down with a pair of scissors, paramedics and police were called but he was declared dead at the scene.

The hearing was told Mr Hearn, 59, had a long history of depression and had contemplated suicide before, confiding in his GP and wife.

Severe depression set in last November and Mrs Hearn told she had organised her work schedule to be with him in the mornings when he felt most low.

Dr Nicolas King, at Haslington surgery, twice referred him to the Trust-run mental health unit at Leighton Hospital, recommending admission but each time he was discharged.

The second time his background notes, giving vital information about his mental state and concerns of his family doctor, could not be found.

Mrs Hearn said: 'David was desperate. He wanted help. I feel we were badly let down by the mental health services.'

Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg said Mr Hearn took his own life while the balance of his mind was disturbed.

A Trust spokeswoman said: 'We take all such incidents seriously and we now await the coroner's letter with his recommendations.'