Bankrupt farmer inhaled pesticide

Bob Dearnley claimed he was being victimised during a long-running dispute with local authorities after running up "vast debts".

He apparently committed suicide after breathing in the noxious substance at Burpham Court Farm, in Guildford, Surrey, on Thursday.

Seven Surrey Police officers taken to hospital for observation after they were exposed to the poison, were released later.

Surrey police confirmed that tests on the substance had revealed it it be pesticide Phostoxin. The chemical, which is highly toxic, is commonly used on farms to kill rabbits, rats and moles.

A police spokeswoman said: "Police investigating the incident at Burpham Court Farm can now confirm that the substance found on the premises has been formally identified as Phostoxin which is commonly used as a pesticide. The man who died at the scene has not yet been formally identified but police believe it to be Bob Dearnley. A post mortem has yet to be arranged.

"The seven Surrey Police officers who were taken to the Royal Surrey Hospital as a precautionary measure were all released yesterday unharmed. At the current time, the investigation remains ongoing."

The post mortem examination will not go ahead as planned as Mr Dearnley's body is still in situ at the farmhouse.

Because toxic chemicals are present at the scene, work is still ongoing to make the area safe, police said. Once the area is declared safe, Mr Dearnley's body will be removed and a post mortem examination can take place.

Mr Dearnley, who was in his 50s and was arrested on Monday after a disturbance at the property, was made bankrupt after losing a court case against the National Trust.