THE BODY of a man killed in the Bali bomb blast has been flown back home.

Ian Findley, from West Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, was one of more than 30 Britons who died in the blast which ripped apart the Sari Club.

Last week he was formally identified by dental records and on Sunday his body was flown back to England, landing at Heathrow Airport, accompanied by his brother Brian and sister Carolyn.

They had travelled to Bali to find out more information and to try and get a clearer idea of when Ian's body would be repatriated.

His body is now being kept temporarily in a mortuary at Fulham, the nearest one to Heathrow Airport, and an inquest into the death of the 55-year-old garage owner was opened and adjourned in Fulham on Tuesday.

The opening of the inquiry into his death means his family can begin making plans for the funeral.

Det Con Tracey Etchells, one of two family liaison officers from Durham police helping the family, said: "From the family's point of view, the return of Ian's body was obviously the most important thing.

"The visit to Bali also enabled them to get many of their questions answered by the authorities over there."

Mr Findlay had been on holiday in Bali with business partner Ian Stafford, who survived the blast, and a group of other friends, when he was killed in the terrorist bombing.

Mr Stafford, from Grange Villa, who returned home alone last week, said that Mr Findley had shielded him from the full force of the blast as they walked into the club - and that he had later identified his friend in the morgue at the hospital.

Last week Mr Findley's relatives were in London to attend a memorial service at St Paul's Cathedral organised for victims and their families by the Australian High Commission.

The Findleys have expressed their appreciation for the many messages of condolence they have received over the last fortnight and are also grateful for the support of their local MP Kevan Jones.