THE funeral service for a tragic verger who fell to his death from York Minster will be held in the historic cathedral on Monday, it was revealed today.

As an inquest heard that verger John Angus was seen stepping over a wall high up the cathedral before he fell 60ft from the north-west tower, it was announced that his funeral would take place on Monday at 11am.

York coroner Donald Coverdale, opening an inquest into Mr Angus's death, said people on the ground saw the verger step over the low wall more than 60ft up the north-west tower, and then fall to the pavement below on Sunday afternoon.

He said that everything had "appeared to be fine" when Mr Angus, 59, of St Mary's, Bootham, had left home earlier that day.

On arriving at the Minster, he had gone up the tower. After his fall, paramedics and police attended, but he was found to have died.

His body was identified by the Dean of York, the Very Reverend Keith Jones, who had said prayers for the verger immediately following his death.

Mr Coverdale said tests at York Hospital later showed the verger had died of multiple injuries.

He said the inquest would be adjourned for further inquiries into the background to the incident, and would resume at a date to be fixed.

He said Mr Angus had been well-loved and respected at the Minster. "There's much sadness surrounding his death," he said.

Shocked crowds watched as the verger fell to the pavement at about 2.30pm on Sunday. The area was sealed off for more than two hours as crime scene investigators began piecing together events both inside and outside the historic cathedral.

Mr Angus joined the Minster staff in 1980 as part of a six-strong team of vergers who helped with the day-to-day running of the building.

Mr Angus leaves a brother Charles, and a sister, Marion. Only family flowers are wanted for the funeral, but donations can be sent to the Haematology Trust Fund.

Updated: 10:07 Thursday, March 03, 2005