AN inquest into the death of a North-East naval engineer who died in a shore leave incident in Tenerife opens on Tuesday.

A military funeral for 21-year-old Darlington man John Hutchinson takes place on Wednesday, at St Augustine's Church, in the town.

Spanish authorities released his body and it was flown to Newcastle Airport on Wednesday, but Mr Hutchinson's family are still awaiting the results of investigations into the incident.

It is believed that he suffered head injuries after falling from a balcony in Playa de las Americas during shore leave from HMS Invincible, on October 3.

His parents, Liz Cooke and Brian Hutchinson, were by his bedside in Tenerife when he died on October 6. Mr Hutchinson also leaves a sister, Fiona 15, a brother Richard, 19, and his stepfather, Dave Cooke.