A bricklayer died at a house in a Darlington village earlier this month after he was found unresponsive, an inquest heard.

Liam James Rowbotham, 25, from Hartlepool, was found unresponsive in bed at a property on Cleasby Lane in Stapleton, near Darlington, on July 13 at around 6.20pm. 

Mr Rowbotham's inquest was opened on Friday (July 26) at North Yorkshire Coroners' Court in Northallerton. 

During the hearing, Jonathan Leach, assistant coroner for North Yorkshire, noted the provisional cause of death of Mr Rowbotham as acute asphyxia, due to pressure on the neck. 

The assistant coroner adjourned the hearing and noted that a full inquest would be heard at a 'date yet to be fixed,' due to further investigation taking place. 

Following Mr Rowbotham's death, tributes were paid to him online, including Teesside charity LilyAnne's Wellbeing, who wrote on social media: "We are devastated. We have spent the day thinking of Liam Rowbotham, his friends and family.

"We we going to miss you, that cheeky smile and amazing banter.

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"You are always going to be part of the LilyAnne Family.

"We still can’t believe it and we are hoping tomorrow when we wake up it’s been an awful nightmare.

"You are always the shining light in the room, and always smiling, we are going to miss you.

"Always and forever."

Whatever you are going through, you don’t have to face it alone. Call Samaritans for free on 116 123, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org for more information.