Campaigner for equality took own life - inquest

Geoff Hardy had a long history of pioneering achievements, the Green Party said

An inquest into the death of a prominent campaigner for LGBT rights and environmental issues has concluded he took his own life.

Geoff Hardy made headlines in Shropshire in 2005 when he and Peter Roscoe became the first gay couple in the county to have a civil partnership. They later married.

Mr Hardy also became Shrewsbury's first Green Party candidate at a general election when he stood in 1987.

A coroner for Shropshire made the ruling on Thursday following Mr Hardy's death in April.

In a death notice, published in the Shropshire Star newspaper, he was described as a "much loved husband, soulmate and dad who would be sorely missed by his family, his many friends and by those who knew him, either personally or professionally".

Following Mr Hardy's death in spring, Peter Gilbert from Shrewsbury Pride wrote: "Geoff was a warrior for all subjugated people and actively supported causes for the downtrodden, but perhaps his greatest efforts were made in support of LGBT equality."

Emma Bullard, the Green Party coordinator in Shrewsbury, said in June he had a "long history of pioneering achievements, many of them for LGBT rights and representation".

She added: "Shrewsbury Green Party will always be grateful to Geoff and his campaigning energy."