`A kind, family man devastated by marriage break-up'.

Friends of John Mark Scott, who was known as Mark, yesterday described him as a "kind family man, who just could not cope with the break-up of his marriage".

The 42-year-old is understood to have worked at the nearby Mickley Garage but was no longer employed there.

He had two grown-up daughters and is thought to have recently become a grandfather for the third time. Scott was a regular at the bar at West Wylam Football Club.

Yesterday, a friend of his at the club, who did not wish to be named, said: "He was a lovely person. There's no one in here who didn't like him.

"We're all stunned and upset by what has happened. He was a generous man who would do anything for anybody." Another friend said: "No one who wasn't there can know what happened, but he certainly wouldn't have meant to harm anyone.

"He loved Shirley so much, he could not deal with not being with her."

Villagers in Stocksfield said they believed Mark had recently been prescribed drugs for depression.