A CORONER has recorded a verdict of suicide, even though no body has been found.

An inquest heard that father-of-two Anthony Kelly, 67, from Pelton, near Chester-le-Street, County Durham, had left his blood-spattered car containing two suicide notes by a North Tyneside beach, in November 2000.

Despite searches, neither a body nor items of clothing were found and North Tyneside coroner Brian Gallon had to secure special dispensation from the Home Office to conduct an inquest.

During the inquest, at the North Tyneside council offices, in Wallsend, Mr Kelly's wife, Margaret, said she was convinced her husband had killed himself.

She said: "I know my husband went into the sea. We wanted to help the police to make it clear that he committed suicide. I'm sure he's not wandering around out there."

Earlier, she had said that her husband had suffered from arthritis and had become convinced that his condition would worsen. For the last weeks of his life the pain was such he could not go to bed at the family home at Heathmeads, in Pelton, and would sleep on the couch.

On the morning he disappeared she heard the door close and the car leave. After calling the former Dryburn Hospital, in Durham City, she called the police.

Later, the couple's son, John, drove with his sister to places his father frequented. They spotted his car parked outside The Grand Hotel, in Tynemouth.

Mr Kelly said: "We turned around the corner and I said, 'Oh God, there's his car'. The first thing I remember is my sister was hysterical. I was shaking and I called the police. I could see blood in the car and two notes and a bottle of whisky."

Mr Kelly's blood was found on railings going down to the beach. A search of the area was carried out and a national appeal for information was launched.

Coroner Mr Gallon said he could not be 100 per cent sure that Mr Gallon carried out his threat, but the balance of probabilities was that he had. He recorded a verdict of suicide