The Dover brother of a former SAS soldier found hanged in Zimbabwe says he believes he was murdered - and hopes a £15,000 reward will encourage someone to come forward and reveal what happened.

Robert Wood, 54, was running a goldmine in the African country when he died.

He was found hanged at the home he shared with his lover Henrietta Dube, who was a director at the mine.

Surrey coroner Richard Travers has recorded an open verdict at an inquest into Mr Wood's death and said some of the evidence he heard was "very suspicious".

Mr Wood's brother Ian, who lives in Dover, said it was very important the family found out what happened.

"We don't believe he committed suicide," he said. "We believe he was murdered.

"We want to get some final closure. If it is left open there is still a niggling question at the back of your mind."

Ian Wood also said he thought his brother's will had been forged.

"It has to be said that some of what I've heard does seem very odd and indeed very suspicious. But I have to recognise that much of what has been said, in court terms, is mere speculation..." - coroner Richard Travers

He went to Zimbabwe himself to try and establish what had happened, but said no one would talk to him. He said he hoped the reward money would now persuade someone to speak out.

The inquest was told that the authorities in Zimbabwe identified four murder suspects during an investigation into Mr Wood's death, but refused to co-operate with UK police.

After leaving the SAS, Mr Wood - known as Rab to his friends - provided security for mining ventures in Sierra Leone before expanding into Zimbabwe.

His body was discovered on March 9, 2012, with a belt around the neck, hanging from security bars in the spare room of his new home, after a night of heavy drinking.

The inquest heard that Miss Dube's boyfriend Bhekithemba Nyoni then "stepped into Rab's shoes" to run the mine, started driving his car and posted pictures online posing next to the dead man's whiskey collection.

Surrey detectives' attempts to investigate Mr Wood's death were thwarted by a lack of cooperation from the local police, the coroner was told.

Robert Wood was married with two sons and lived in Surrey.

The coroner said: "It has to be said that some of what I've heard does seem very odd and indeed very suspicious.

"But I have to recognise that much of what has been said, in court terms, is mere speculation. There's an absence of direct evidence to support it.

"In all of the circumstances, there is insufficient evidence for me to determine properly how Rab came by his death and I therefore record an open verdict."