PENSIONER Eugene Rockett decided to end his own life before Alzheimer's took hold of his mind, an inquest heard.

The High Wycombe inquest was told last Thursday that Mr Rockett, 74, left a note at the bottom of the stairs at his home in Westover Road, Downley, warning his wife Carmen not to go upstairs on her own, on January 24 this year.

Mrs Rockett, who had just arrived home from a trip to London, alerted two neighbours who discovered Mr Rockett's body in his office.

Mrs Rockett said: "I only read the top. It said 'Carmen my love don't come to my room by yourself'."

Neighbour Michael Wood said: "He had a bag over his head. I called but he did not answer. The room was unlit and I believed him to be dead."

The inquest heard that in October last year Mr Rockett was told by doctors he had the beginnings of Alzheimers disease.

Buckinghamshire Coroner Richard Hulett said: "I understand he [Mr Rockett] had talked openly about doing something to end his life before Alzheimers took him over."

He returned a verdict that Mr Rockett took his own life.