Colin Tarrant committed suicide after becoming depressed, the inquest into his death has heard

British actor Colin Tarrant committed suicide after becoming depressed, an inquest has heard.

The TV star, who played Inspector Andrew Monroe in British cop drama The Bill for several years, was found at his home in Bristol, England with knife wounds on 25 January. He died of his injuries in hospital a day later.

More: Friends Remember Colin Tarrant, Star Of The Bill, Dead At 59

During an inquest into his death at Flax Bourton Coroners Court in Bristol, a coroner ruled the actor took his own life after falling into a deep depression over his financial problems.

The court heard Tarrant, 59, had been troubled over the sale of his house, which fell through for a second time before he took his own life.

The actor had performed in a number of stage shows since leaving the long-running ITV police drama, which was axed in 2010.

The Bill, set in the fictional London area of Sun Hill, was launched as a series in 1984 and ran for 26 years.

Despite having a cult following, audience numbers fell in later years and it was eventually axed after 2,400 episodes.