A 36-year old estate agent who had set up his own agency business tragically took his own life after a long battle with depression, an inquest has heard.

Charlie Lancaster, 36, started online agency MyBid4It two years ago, having previously worked for Lancaster Samms, the York-based agency he co-founded at the age of 28.

He was found dead at his flat in York on 18 August by his partner Gemma Stanham, who had been supporting him through his mental health issues.

An inquest held at County Hall in Northallerton this week heard that Lancaster had struggled with anxiety and depression.

Stanham told the hearing in a statement that Lancaster had been “finding things hard during lockdown, when he was working from home, but had seemer brighter, more alert and helpful in the weeks prior to his death, leading her to believe that he had turned a corner”.

Lancaster, who told his therapist that he had regularly thought about ending his life, was found dead with alcohol and antidepressant medication in his bloodstream, although the levels were not enough to be fatal.

Recording a conclusion of suicide, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire John Broadbridge, said: “He [Lancaster] was known to be suffering from depression. He gave no signs that he was planning suicide, though the thought had entered his head. Everything seemed normal – he left no note and had no severe mental illness.

“He knew he would be on his own, that his partner would be at work and that he could not expect to be disturbed. There was a mechanism that involved thought and planning – this was not an accident or a cry for help.”