A promising young actor plunged 100ft to his death from a bridge just days after recording his debut role in a popular children's TV drama.

Byker Grove actor Duncan Ford, 16, stormed out of his home after an argument with his father. The following day he was found dead after plummeting from a bridge on to concrete, an inquest in Sunderland was told.

Duncan, who was killed instantly, was seen falling head first over Wearmouth Bridge, Sunderland.

A coroner recorded an open verdict after being unable to establish whether the youngster had intended to leap or fell as a result of an accident.

The inquest heard that Duncan was last seen by his family on June 12 when he left the family home in Jesmond, Newcastle, after the row with his father, Ian, a 50-year-old finance officer.

His mother, Jennifer, 48, a teacher, described how the argument had led to her son leaving home.

She said: "There were odd rows because Duncan was never wrong about anything - he was a very confident young man - but they were never anything severe because he was laid back most of the time."

The inquest heard that Duncan had made his way to a friend's house a few miles away in Heaton, Newcastle.

Duncan, a talented student, was in the middle of his GCSE exams at Heaton Manor School, and the following day was due to take his graphics exam.

He had been on his way to school with his friend, Rosie Stankiewicz, when he told her he was not going to take his exam and was going to go to Sunderland.

The pair parted and Rosie was to become the last person to see him alive.

His mother said: "He had everything to live for.

"He was in the middle of filming for Byker Grove and he was so excited about it - he had loads of things to look forward to."

Mrs Ford and her two daughters, Naomi, 19, and Erica, 17, both students, were at the hearing to hear coroner Martin Shaw record the open verdict.

Mr Ford did not attend the hearing.

Edward Pugh, producer with Zenith North, the company that makes Byker Grove for the BBC, said: "The whole cast was deeply shocked and saddened by Duncan's death."

The verdict came just two days after the episode in which Duncan, who played Alan in the show, was screened with the permission of the family.