A pair of "inseparable twins" spent a final evening together before they took their lives in a wood where they had played as children, an inquest heard.

My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding stars Billy and Joey Smith, both 32, were found off Dibden Way, in Sevenoaks, on December 28.

During an inquest today in Maidstone, the court heard the pair, who worked together as tree surgeons and lived in Sevenoaks, had written a note to their uncle saying that they "had decided to leave this life".

Billy was found with an old photo of himself and his twin.

Both were struggling with depression and anxiety and Joey had been diagnosed with bladder cancer in January 2018 while Billy suffered with ongoing back pain.

Billy had been referred to Think Action, a mental health service, and he told them he often wondered about the point of life.

"He said he felt protected with his brother and worse when he left his home. He said there was a tree in his back garden where he had a plan to hang himself but this was in the future," assistant coroner Alan Blunsdon said, reading a report from a cognitive behaviour nurse after an appointment in November.

Billy told the service he would not take his life while his twin needed him.

Joey, who was a father of two, had also been referred to a mental health service by Kent Police and the service tried to reach him in September, but could not contact him.

Det Sgt Nicola Mullins, who investigated the case, said after the pair returned from a month-long holiday to Thailand, they both made comments about "leaving this life."

The pair, it emerged, had been close to taking their lives nine days before they died.

Billy Smith sent a message to his girlfriend, saying: "With him it would have been easier for me, he backed out at the last minute when he realised how serious I was. I am not going to talk him into it."

Billy said he was "too weak to carry on" and was too tired to keep fighting.

On Christmas Day, Joey wrote to his wife Charmaine, saying: "I can't do this any longer. What happens in life is meant to happen. I am sorry life didn't plan out how I wanted it to but it's out of our control."

Det Sgt Mullins said the police were called after the twins' uncle received a suicide note, which read: "We have decided to leave this life. You will find us in the woods by Granny where we used to have fires. Take care of yourself, we are right where we want to be."

Police arrived at the scene at 12.30am, where a camp fire was still smouldering. Two tree trunks used as seats, as well as food, an empty bottle of Jack Daniels and two glasses were found.

'I'm sorry life didn't plan out how I wanted it to...'

The pair had carved their initials and '2020' into a tree.

A post mortem gave the cause of death as suspension.

Mr Blunsdon ruled a conclusion of suicide and said the case was "sad and tragic".

He went on: "These twins were inseparable in their lives together. It is now clear they had been talking together and to others about suicidal thoughts for some time. They were the protective factor stopping the other from harming themselves even though they both had suicidal thoughts.

"They planned to spend their last night together and did so in a place familiar to them. The protective factor each had for the other ended when they both decided they had nothing to live for."

Following their deaths, tributes poured in for the pair and a funeral was attended by hundreds.

If you are struggling with mental health issues you can contact Kent County Council's support team 24/7. For details click here.

For confidential support on an emotional issue, call Samaritans on 116 123 at any time.

If you want to talk to someone confidentially, click here.

For more information on how we can report on inquests, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Sevenoaks