A 46-year-old man found hanged in Blackwood last summer committed suicide, a coroner ruled.

Carl Hungerford's family claim he was murdered, but at an inquest in Newport senior coroner for Gwent David Bowen said the "only conclusion" after considering the evidence was that Mr Hungerford took his own life.

Mr Hungerford, who had lived in Bristol, was staying with his mother in Pontllanfraith when found hanging in woods near Blackwood police station in mid-August last year.

Unconscious when cut down, he recovered after 10 days in hospital but remembered nothing of the incident.

Due to enter drug rehabilitation, the inquest was told that on the eve of starting the programme, Mr Hungerford seemed nervous.

He disappeared again and three days later his body was found hanging in woods in the Highfields area of Blackwood. A post mortem examination concluded that cause of death was asphyxia due to hanging.

Mr Hungerford's mother Edwina Bond told the inquest she feared her son was murdered and his aunt Georgina Howells told Mr Bowen about a man she claimed had harassed her nephew and the family.

Dawn Del-Valle, who visited Mr Hungerford in hospital, said messages found on a computer device she lent him showed he had feared for his life.

However, DC Matthew Clarke of Gwent Police, who investigated Mr Hungerford's death, concluded there was nothing to suggest foul play.

Noting DC Clarke's evidence, Mr Bowen said allegations made by family members had been investigated.

"From the evidence I have heard it is clear Mr Hungerford was afraid of something. Whether or not that was a genuine fear, it is not necessary for me to decide," he said.

"I am sure it (his death) is the result of an unassisted act. The only conclusion is that Carl Hungerford committed suicide."