AN inquest has been opened into the death of Craig Darren Batters whose body was found in the River Ouse on New Year's Day.

Mr Batters, 42, was found near Holly Terrace at 1.30pm after he disappeared as he walked home towards Scarborough Bridge between 1am and 3am.

Senior coroner Rob Turnbull opened the inquest, saying the cause of death was drowning.

The police attended at the riverbank after reports that a body was in the river.

The body was identified by a police officer as being Craig Darren Batters.

Mr Turnbull said the police had found no evidence of suspicious circumstances.

He adjourned the inquest to a date to be fixed.

After Mr Batter's death his sister Andrea Benson appealed through The Press for any information from anyone who saw her brother as he walked along the bank of the River Ouse.

In February she said the family were desperate for answers about what happened to Craig.

She said he had been to a party in Lowther Terrace on New Year's Eve.

His distressed dog Kyla, a Staffordshire breed, was apparently found searching the bank for her master at about 2am on New Year's Day.