A university student threw himself off 45ft-high scaffolding in a depressed state on the morning he was due to start lectures, an inquest heard.

The body of 20-year-old James Pickford was found by a passer-by at the top of Black Boy Hill in Clifton, Bristol, on October 8 last year.

Dr Hugh White, who carried out a post mortem, concluded James died of multiple injuries.

Bristol Coroner's Court heard police searching his room found a note in James' handwriting addressed "to my parents, who I love very much".

The inquest heard James moved away from his family home in Brighton to study for an economics degree at Bristol University.

The night before he killed himself, James rang his parents and said he felt depressed, could not sleep and worried about the future. Family and friends tried to reassure him.

Andrew Ullman was on his way to work when he saw James' body on the path near scaffolding.

Deputy Coroner Brian Whitehouse recorded a verdict of suicide while the balance of James' mind was temporarily disturbed.

After the inquest, University spokeswoman Joanne Fryer said: "We offer our sincere condolences to James' family."