AN EAST Brent man who killed himself by tying a bag around his head left a note to his family on the back of a cornflake packet. Albert Ward died, aged 79, at his house in Brent Road on January 8 after putting a white plastic bag over his head and tying

AN EAST Brent man who killed himself by tying a bag around his head left a note to his family on the back of a cornflake packet. Albert Ward died, aged 79, at his house in Brent Road on January 8 after putting a white plastic bag over his head and tying it with scarves, an inquest heard. The former builder and farmer had stopped working in his 50s after his sight started to deteriorate. Albert was found by his nephew Geoffrey Puddy, of Silverberry Road, Worle. He told the inquest: "When I arrived the curtains were drawn and the hallway light was on. I tried the front door, but that was locked, so I went to the rear of the house where the conservatory is. I found Albert sitting in a chair with a white plastic bag over his head. I tried the nearby kitchen door, which was unlocked, and managed to get inside." Mr Ward's sister, Brenda Puddy, of Becket Drive, Worle said: "Albert was registered blind and diabetic. I would visit him every day. He was married but his wife passed away in 2000 and they never had any children."The day before he died we had a short telephone conversation at about 9pm. He hadn't been well for a few days. When I phoned the next day I didn't get a reply, and asked my son Geoffrey to go the house."When I arrived afterwards I called the doctor, and later identified the writing on the cornflake packet as Albert's. Cereal packets were his notepads, he wrote on them all the time."At an inquest on April 12, coroner Michael Rose said: "I understand Mr Ward led a very active life. He was able to look after himself and kept his own garden. He received considerable help and encouragement from his sister Brenda."Mr Ward had medical problems. He was a diabetic, had heart problems and had heart disease. He did not want to enter old age and deteriorate, unable to carry on his way of life. "I think Mr Ward felt that he had had a very good life and would rather end it there. I express my deepest sympathy to the family."A verdict of death by asphyxia was recorded.