THE motivation of an Ulverston man found hanged at his flat remains 'unknown' despite an inquest into his death.

David Woodend, 64, was found hanged at his home on Queen Street in May this year, but no evidence was offered as to why he may have taken his own life.

"There was nothing whatsoever that would make me think he would take his own life," said his brother, Kenneth Woodend.

"It was a big shock."

Mr Woodend's body was discovered on May 27 by another resident in the same building.

Malcolm Hogg said earlier that day he had heard Mr Woodend moving around in his flat, but sometime at around 5.15pm discovered his body in the stairwell.

Paramedics and police attended and pronounced him dead at the scene.

A post-mortem found a small amount of alcohol in his system, which coroner, Ian Smith, said may have been for 'Dutch courage'.

"The circumstances of his death, physically-speaking, are clear but mentally the motivation isn't," Mr Smith told the hearing, at Barrow Town Hall.

"There appear to be no particular problems he had.

"He's recently retired but appeared to be enjoying things - going out and having walks and such-like.

"So what prompted him to do this is clearly unknown."

Mr Smith concluded he had died as a consequence of his own actions, though 'his motivation is unknown'.