Mystery still shrouds the death of a gun enthusiast who was found dead in his home with a single bullet wound to his head.

Although there was no evidence to suggest anyone else had been involved in the death of Wallington man Richard Mullany, a coroner said he could not be sure he had committed suicide.

South London Coroner Roy Palmer also said the death did not seem like it happened by accident  whle the Hackney Carriage driver was cleaning his weapon.

The coroner recorded an open verdict at a hearing in Croydon Coroner's Court yesterday.

Mr Mullany, a member of Croydon Rifle and Pistol Club, was described by friends as "a lovely, lovely man".

The 40-year-old was found with a single bullet wound to the centre of his forehead at his home off London Road in Hackbridge on February 8.

He was taken to hospital but nothing could be done to save him and he died the following day.

The inquest heard evidence from PC Kevin Dunne, the first officer on the scene who arrived after paramedics, who said he found Mr Mullany lying on a bed with a revolver in his hand.

He explained the gun appeared to have been removed from a hidden and locked gun cabinet without force and that there were no gun-cleaning materials on the scene.

He added: "There was no obvious explanation for what happened.

"If he was cleaning you'd expect the cleaning things to be out in front of him but that was not the case."

South London Coroner Roy Palmer said he had looked at Mr Mullany's medical records and found no record of depression - just a reference to frustration at recurring pains he wanted sorting out.

Mr Palmer added: "It's all a bit of a mystery. He was an exemplary [firearms] licence holder.

"He was thought to be an experienced and a responsible firearms holder according to his club.

"The evidence I've got does not tell me that he intended to take his own life."

Speaking after the hearing, close friend Barry Evans said: "The world will be a sadder place without him.

"He was a lovely, lovely man."