THE body of a man was found hanging in a house in Middlewich last week.

Stephen Poynter, of Davenham Way, was discovered at the address at 12.45pm on Thursday, September 3.

He was a few weeks short of his 26th birthday.

A post-mortem on Friday morning confirmed hanging as the cause of death and there are reported to be no suspicious circumstances.

Stephen, originally from Alsager, spent time in the army and, while living in Middlewich, had worked at the Morrisons distribution warehouse in Rudheath for the past 12 months as an HGV driver.

A site controller at Morrisons spoke on behalf of friends and staff at the depot about the shock they have suffered.

He said: "Stephen was a very pleasant and likeable lad who enjoyed running marathons and doing his bit for everyone.

"There was no indication this would happen and it's stunned us all here. It's very sad.

"We all used to have a laugh and a joke with him and he had a lot of friends here, very close-knit with the other drivers who worked on the HGVs."

An inquest into Stephen's death has been opened and adjourned.

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