AN ELDERLY man whose body was discovered on a Highcliffe beach in December drowned, doctors say.

At the opening of an inquest into the death of Alfred Frank Oakley, assistant coroner Richard Middleton heard the 89-year-old was found by a member of the public near Highcliffe Castle on December 10.

There are no suspicious circumstances surrounding the death, and no third party involvement.

Mr Oakley was born in Coventry in 1928 and had lived in Ranelagh Road, Highcliffe. He had worked as an agricultural engineer and was married to Pauline.

Preliminary investigations revealed the cause of his death is drowning.

A dogwalker saw a body in the water at around 8.20am, and Mr Oakley was later identified by his nephew, it was heard.

A full inquest will take place in March.