THE family of a popular cricketer found dead in his van told an inquest they did not believe he intended to kill himself.

Robert Riley, 39, of Alder Avenue, Rawtenstall, was missing for two days before his body was found in April by police in a car park opposite the Holden Vale Hotel, in Helmshore.

His van was filled with fumes.

The inquest heard the father of two was going through a divorce, was out of work and had problems in his relationship with his father.

But his girlfriend, Lindsey Roscoe, said he had a lot to live for.

She said: "We had plans for the future - he had proposed to me, we were organising his 40th birthday party and we were talking about booking a holiday.

"He would often drive out there for some thinking time, it was one of his favourite places.

"I think he went out there for some thinking time. I don't think when he left the house he intended to kill himself. He had so many things to look forward to - he loved life. None of it makes any sense."

His sister, Jacqueline McCarthy, told the hearing in Burnley that when things got on top of Robert he would "disappear."

But she too did not think he had intended to kill himself.

She said: "He would go away and work things out and when he had done that he would always telephone or text to say he had sorted himself out and say he was sorry.

"I thought that was what he had done this time."

Mrs McCarthy said her brother - who was known throughout the Valley after playing in the Ribblesdale League as a batsman for Edenfield as well as in the Lancashire League for Bacup and Rawtenstall - had been on "good form" when she had spoken to him in the days before his death.

She said: "He is the sort of person who dots the 'i's and crosses the 't's and unless there is a letter from him I find it hard to believe."

A post mortem examination revealed that Mr Riley had been drinking. He was killed by the lethal combination of alcohol and carbon monoxide.

East Lancashire coroner Richard Taylor said he could not be sure whether Robert had intended to take his own life and recorded an open verdict. He said: "I don't think any of us will ever know what he intended or what happened that night."