A pet shop owner killed himself after a rent increase on his home and business threatened to spiral him into debt.

Edward Alexander, 61, felt helpless at the prospect of losing the shop he ran with his wife in Hangleton, Hove, an inquest was told.

In June this year, Mr Alexander and his wife were dealt the bombshell when told they faced a rent increase of more than 40 per cent, backdated to March.

His daughter, Jayne Cracknell, of Epsom, Surrey, told the hearing at Brighton Coroners Court: "He was told if he didn't come up with the money he was out.

"He did propose to the landlord that they would move out of the flat so the landlord could get more money. But he said he wanted the premises all together.

"He went on to such a negative path and just gave up."

She described her father as a man who had never been in debt in his life but was unwilling to seek legal advice.

She said: "My husband and I became quite concerned that he wouldn't see a solicitor.

"We just didn't understand. He had never had any financial worries at all."

She said when her parents first took on the shop and moved into the flat above the previous year, everything had been marvellous. Her parents had gained great enjoyment from running the business together.

His wife told the coroner: "I kept telling him to phone a solicitor but he said there was no hope they would be able to help. He had got it into his head that no one could help him.

"He had never been in debt in his life."

Coroner Veronica Hamilton Deely addressed the family saying: "If he had taken your advice there would probably have been a way through it. But we all make our own decisions. We have to respect this.

"The problem was he had both his livelihood and home in the same premises so he was doubly hit. He was immediately in arrears because the rent increase was backdated.

"It must have been an awful shock to a man who had traded so successfully in the past. Everything had been going so well so the thought of losing this was a complete blow.

"He must have been one exceptional man to have achieved everything he did and still not be in debt.

"It is such a sad case. I don't have any doubt he took his own life and that is the verdict I am returning."

The pathologist, Dr Neera Patel, said when Mr Alexander registered with Hangleton Manor Surgery last year he seemed fit and healthy and had no history of depression nor showed any signs of it.

Mr Alexander was discovered by his wife and daughter, with a rope tied twice around his neck, hanging from a single beam in the garage adjacent to his pet shop in Northease Drive, Hangleton, on June 22, at 9.30am.

A hole had been drilled into the beam and the rope carefully positioned around his neck.

His wife had reported him missing in the early hours of that morning after he failed to return home.