A POPULAR sportsman who “brightened up the lives of everyone he met” took his own life at home in Beccles, an inquest heard today.

A POPULAR sportsman who “brightened up the lives of everyone he met” took his own life at home in Beccles, an inquest heard today.

Talented cricketer, footballer and rugby player Peter Anderson, who grew up in Lowestoft and lived at Field View Gardens in Beccles, was found dead at home in August last year.

An inquest held in Lowestoft this morning heard that the 34-year-old had become increasingly insular in the months leading up to his death, and that “his mood went up and down.”

Deputy coroner for Suffolk Yvonne Blake said that the weekend before his death on Monday August 17, he had played cricket and football and gone to a pub in Beccles with friends.

However his girlfriend was worried about his mood and grew increasingly concerned when he sent her a text message saying that he “was going to end it”.

Ms Blake said that on the Monday morning, Mr Anderson's girlfriend had gone round to his house and found him sitting in his car with the engine running. She helped him out of the car and left, planning to speak to him later.

However he was found hanging at home at about 6pm that evening.

Recording a verdict of suicide, Ms Blake said: “He was described as always bouncing back and by many friends as the life of the party.”

She added: “Given that Mr Anderson had been found in his car earlier and had told his girlfriend he was very low and wanted to end things permanently, I am satisfied that he understood his intentions and fully intended them.”

Mr Anderson, who attended Roman Hill Primary, Harris Middle and Denes High schools in Lowestoft, worked in the IT department at Aviva in Norwich.

Shortly after his death, a statement from his parents Brian and Patricia and brother David said that Mr Anderson “brightened up the lives of everyone he met.”

He was a skilful wicketkeeper and was a regular in Beccles town cricket club's first team, having previously played for Lowestoft Town and Vauxhall Mallards in Brundall.

He was an avid Ipswich Town supporter and had signed up to play for the Caxton Arms football club in Beccles.

In his rugby career, he started out as a junior at Lowestoft and Yarmouth rugby club and had returned to the club as a scrum half after two seasons at Beccles Club.