AN OPEN verdict has been recorded on the death of a man whose body was found in Coniston Water earlier this year.

An inquest at Kendal was told that the body of Andrew Frank Cooper, 58, was found in the lake on June 12.

A post-mortem examination showed the cause of death was drowning, and that there was no alcohol or drugs present in Mr Cooper's blood.

Det Con David Stalker told the inquest that some property was recovered from nearby woods And, although it did not contain any formal identification, police were able to trace Mr Cooper's address in Bolton.

Officers found a diary and a card at the house. The diary contained a number of references to Mr Cooper not being alive for very much longer. Although the references were not specific, Det Con Stalker confirmed they could be read in that way.

The police officer said there was nothing to indicate how Mr Cooper had got into the lake, and his body was found near the boating centre where it would not have gone unnoticed for very long.

In conclusion, coroner for South Cumbria and Furness Ian Smith said that there were a number of possibilities for how Mr Cooper came to be in the water.

Mr Smith said he could not return a verdict of suicide because he could not be certain that Mr Cooper went into the lake intending not to come out. The diary did not prove he intended to take his own life, he said.