A VERDICT of accidental death has been recorded on pensioner Leslie Hale who disappeared while walking home to Patney, near Devizes, on New Year's Eve.

Mr Hale, 71, was last seen leaving the Wiltshire Yeoman pub in Chirton at 8.15pm but never arrived home.

Despite extensive searches by police his body was found about half a mile from his home in the River Avon on February 1.

An inquest into his death was held in Chippenham on Tuesday and was told that Mr Hale, who lived alone, consumed half a shandy and a brandy and soda at the Wiltshire Yeoman before leaving to return to his home in Pucklands, Patney.

Wiltshire Yeoman landlord Clive Fletcher said in a statement that Mr Hale seemed OK and was not stressed when he left the pub.

Two residents also saw him walking in the road through Chirton in the direction of Patney and they said he appeared fine.

Mr Hale suffered angina, dementia and schizophrenia and received treatment at Green Lane Hospital.

His home carer and a volunteer from the Women's Royal Voluntary Service, who delivered meals to him, both called at his home on January 1 but he was not in. His home was unlocked which was not unusual, but his bed had not been made.

Mr Hale's brother, Eric Hale, of High Street, Market Lavington, last saw his brother on December 28 and said he was fine.

Mr Hale said his brother was known as a wanderer and liked to walk around Patney.

He said his brother had been to his GP complaining of chest pains and a possible heart problem.

PC Noel Small, of Devizes Police, said extensive searches of the river and Patney and Chirton by police officers, dog handlers, the police helicopter and volunteers of the Wiltshire Search and Rescue Team had failed to find Mr Hale.

At the time Mr Hale went missing PC Small said the river and watercourses were full due to recent heavy rain.

Mr Hales' body was found by divers from Avon and Somerset Police face down in the water against the branches of a tree.

PC Small said there was no indication on the river bank where Mr Hale fell in. There were no suspicious circumstances.

He told the inquest Mr Hale would have crossed either a road bridge or footbridge to return to his home in Patney.He also said the police had discounted two alleged sightings of Mr Hale on January 1 and 2.

Dr Christine Scott carried out the post mortem examination which showed Mr Hale had coronary heart disease. There was no evidence of external trauma and nothing to show he had swallowed water, she said in a statement.

She concluded that the probable cause was that he either suffered a heart attack and fell into the river or fell into the river and his heart stopped beating due to the coldness of the water.

She ruled out drowning as the cause of death and said he had died from immersion in water.

Mr Hale was identified by metalwork inserted into his leg during operations.

Coroner David Masters said he believed Mr Hale fell into the river on the night of December 31 and died then.

He said: "It was probable that he had not drowned but died from the shock to the system of entering the water.

"I believe Mr Hale died on December 31 on his way back home from the pub because I don't think he could have survived outdoors much beyond that date."

Mr Masters said the cause of death was immersion in water and recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Eric Hale and his wife passed on their thanks to the police for their assistance during the search.