Taxi firm owner who killed himself 'was worried about rising fuel prices'

A taxi company owner killed himself after telling friends he was worried about the rising price of petrol.

Darrel Musgrove, 37, who ran a cab firm in North Wales, was found dead in woods near Conwy after telling family he was going out for a drive 'to clear his head'.

Friends and family said the father-of-one had been worried about fuel prices.

Mr Musgrove employed five drivers specialising in executive travel with chauffeured vehicles, at his company Daz'll Drive U in Craig-y-Don.

However the company was put under strain by oil prices, which have doubled in the last year with the price per barrel now $146.

Motorists are now being warned that petrol could reach £1.50 a litre this summer as oil prices keep rising.

Employee Tim Christensen said: 'Worry about the price of fuel was one of many concerns -I can't really comment if it was the main one.

'It is a strain. It was one of the pressures on the business at the moment.'

Mr Musgrove's mother, Florence, 74, said: 'He had been depressed in the past but he was better. He got over that and started a new business.

'He was really excited about it. It seemed to be going from strength to strength.

'Something has just snapped. It could have been the price of fuel. It's on all the taxi drivers' minds.'

Darrel Musgrove with one of his taxis at cab firm Daz'll Drive U

Divorced Mr Musgrove, who had a seven-year-old daughter,  had started a new relationship and planned to marry his fiance next year.

His mother, Florence said: 'He idolised and lived for his daughter and thought the world of his girlfriend.

'His girlfriend spoke to him on the phone when he was at Llanberis, on Wednesday afternoon.

'She said: 'You're supposed to go home now'. He said: "I love you babes.' She went looking for him in Llanberis.'

He also had an identical twin, Garrad, and three sisters Nicolette, Jaquetta and Sharon.

His father Alan, 71, said: 'He told us: 'I'm just going for a run to clear my head. It's a tragic death. We're just baffled. He was fine when he went out.'

A North Wales Police spokesman said: 'We can confirm that a man's body was found at Nantbwlchyrheyrn, near Trefriw.'

An ambulance service spokesman said: 'We were called to an incident at 5.05pm by North Wales Police on the B5106 near Llanrwst.

'An emergency ambulance was dispatched to the scene. On arrival, a paramedic pronounced a 37-year-old male dead at the scene.'