Gaynor Lord: Norfolk coroner reveals mother-of-three drowned

A mother-of-three whose disappearance sparked a major search died by drowning in the river where her body was found, a coroner said.

Gaynor Lord, 55, was reported missing on 8 December after failing to return home from her job at a department store in Norwich.

Her body was recovered from the River Wensum by police divers a week later.

An inquest into her death was opened on Wednesday and revealed the cause as "immersion and drowning".

Assistant coroner Christopher Leach adjourned the hearing until 1 October, when a full inquest will take place.

Ms Lord was reported missing by her family after she failed to arrive home from Jarrold's department store, where she worked on a gin counter as a retail assistant.

CCTV footage showed her leaving work more than an hour earlier than expected, before hurrying through the city on foot.

A large search operation began on 8 December when her belongings, including clothing, two rings and a mobile phone, were found scattered across Wensum Park.

Her body was found on 15 December, with Norfolk Police revealing it did not suspect any "third-party involvement".

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