A MAN drowned after falling into the River Weaver at Nantwich, an inquest heard this week.

The body of 48-year-old railway driver John Scane, of Audlem Road, Nantwich, was found in the river on November 13 last year, two days after he was reported missing.

Coroner John Hibbert recorded a verdict of accidental death at the inquest at Crewe Magistrates on Tuesday.

Local police constable Roland Griffiths said he made the discovery as he made a search along the riverbank.

"I was carrying out a detailed search of the Waterlode area where Mr Scane had last been seen. As I went down towards the edge of the bank I could see a green baseball cap and I was aware he had been wearing a similar cap," he said.

"I also noticed a cigarette lighter and a tobacco tin was floating on the water. Then I saw a white object and as I tried to establish what it was I realised I could actually see a human face next to the object.

"From the position of the items on the riverbank, they looked to have been dropped rather than placed. So it's possible he had stopped to light a cigarette and dropped his lighter or tobacco, then fell into the river as he tried to pick them up."

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