MYSTERY still surrounds the death of a 61 year-old woman whose body was found in the river Wharfe at Bolton Abbey.

Pamela Morris was discovered at midday on April 7 in the river close to a popular footpath and about 200 yards down from the bridge that carries the A59.

She had been reported missing to police three days before and CCTV images of her revealed she had travelled to Bolton Abbey.

Officers had worked round the clock to try and piece together Mrs Morris's movements since she was last seen on April 4.

Her disappearance sparked a wide search of the river Wharfe and Bolton Abbey area by police underwater teams and mountain rescue volunteers.

Jonathan Heath, the Craven assistant coroner, heard how Mrs Morris had suffered from mental health issues for some time and had gone into the river at Bolton Abbey on a previous occasion. He was told that in recent months she had suffered three bereavements.

Mrs Morris did not leave a note and there was not enough evidence to say, one way or another, how she died. A police investigation ruled out that she had been the victim of an attack, he said.

"I'm not in a position where I can say categorically exactly how she came to here death. The only conclusion I can make is that of an open verdict," he said.

He understood that her last movements involved her catching a bus from her Glusburn home to Skipton and taking a taxi to Bolton Abbey.

Before she was found her husband Philip made an emotional appeal through the Press for her to get in touch saying it was very unlike his wife to disappear.