The death of a journalist who fell from a bridge in Newcastle remains a mystery.

An inquest recorded an open verdict on Herald & Post chief reporter and Sunday Sun writer Roger Woodcock.

Witnesses told how there was no reason to think he would take his own life.

And the hearing uncovered no evidence about how or why he was on the High Level Bridge in Newcastle in the early hours of June 2.

Coroner David Mitford was told that Roger, (57), had been out drinking with friends two days before his death and was on top form and in good spirits.

But he failed to turn up to work the day after and told bosses at the Herald & Post he was at home waiting for a plumber - although a subsequent police investigation showed no plumber had been called.

Mr Mitford said: "There is no information as to what his mental processes were.

"It is difficult to see how it could have been an accident in the sense of falling over the parapet - but it is possible he may have got onto the parapet and then fallen."

Roger was an award-winning journalist and had been a journalist for 40 years. He'd previously been a showbiz reporter at Titbits, Woman's Own and the Daily Express.

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