A Harpenden man drowned in Southdown pond a week before his birthday, an inquest heard on Thursday.

George Wrigglesworth, 92, from Southdown, was found by a dog walker on the morning of Monday, November 21, 2016.

He was identified by police after a man approached their cordon asking if anyone had seen his grandfather.

Mr Wrigglesworth, who was born in Bristol on November 29, 1923, had been walking around the pond, which had a steep verge.

At around 10am he fell into the pond and drowned. The pathologist reported coronary heart disease had a hand in his death.

Mr Wrigglesworth had suffered cancer and a stroke several years ago, before being diagnosed with dementia in 2014, for which he was not being treated when he died, his GP said.

Crime scene investigators found no injuries, and the police, represented in court by Sgt Jinesh Solankee, do not believe his death to be suspicious.

Hertfordshire coroner Geoffrey Sullivan determined Mr Wrigglesworth’s death was accidental.