A WELL-known Ipswich property agent is today thought to have taken his own life after he was found hanging at his home near Woodbridge.

Colin Adwent

A WELL-known Ipswich property agent is today thought to have taken his own life after he was found hanging at his home near Woodbridge.

Neil Baker, a company director, who worked at Primedale in Neale Street, Ipswich, was discovered on Sunday afternoon by a friend who had gone round to see him at his house in Grundisburgh Road, Clopton.

His body was found hanging in the garage of the property.

Police and paramedics were called to the premises, but 53-year-old Mr Baker had already died by the time they arrived.

Anne-Marie Breach, a spokeswoman for Suffolk police, confirmed officers had attended the scene: “We were called to an address in Grundisburgh Road, Clopton just after 1.30pm to reports of a man found hanging in the garage.”

She added there were not thought to be any suspicious circumstances surrounding Mr Baker's death.

A spokeswoman for East of England Ambulance Service said it had sent two ambulances and a rapid response vehicle to his home, but there was nothing that could be done to save Mr Baker.

The initial indication was that the company director had died from a cardiac or respiratory arrest.

The tragedy is now being investigated by the coroner's office in Ipswich.

An inquest is due to be held at a later date.

Staff at Primedale were too upset to speak about the tragedy when contacted yesterday.

However, Colin Girling, the Suffolk representative for the National Association of Estate Agents said: “It is a terrible tragedy that somebody that age has had to do what he did. I feel so sorry for his family and colleagues who have to pick up the pieces and carry on.”