A POPULAR Swanage firefighter hanged himself after children made allegations against him, an inquest heard.

Matthew Norman, 45, was found dead at his Swanage home just days after a police and social services investigation was launched, Dorset Coroner Sheriff Payne was told.

A Bournemouth inquest heard Mr Norman, of Days Road, sent text messages to his former wife, Sue, after the allegations were made which read: “I feel so upset and helpless. I don’t know what to do with myself. I would not hurt any child - you know that.

“I don’t know what I would do if I got locked up, I am a good person, God, I am so worried.”

Mr Norman, a father-of-three, was due to take his own children to Center Parcs but the trip had to be cancelled because of the allegations made by other children, the coroner was told.

He lived in a two-bedroom wooden cabin at the rear of his parents’ home and he was found hanging from a children’s bunk bed on Sunday October 4 last year, the day before the planned Center Parcs trip, Mr Payne heard.

The inquest was told that allegations had been made by two primary aged children on September 30 and that Mr Norman had been aware of an investigation but had not been told about the nature or seriousness of the allegations.

The inquest heard that Mr Norman was brought up in the Swanage area and attended St Mark’s Infants, Swanage Middle and Purbeck schools.

He had a number of different jobs including working for Banyards and Castle Court and had been a retained firefighter for many years. Mr Norman gave fire safety advice in schools and was well-known in the local community.

The coroner recorded a verdict that he took his own life and after the inquest his family paid tribute.

They said: “He was unaware of what allegations had been made against him and it was too much for him to bear - it is so unfair and so sad.We want to thank the fire service for their support.”