INVESTIGATIONS are continuing into the death of a suspected child molester.

An inquest into the death of Norman Dyer, of Rothbury Road, Stockton, was opened on Teesside yesterday and adjourned for further inquiries.

A family stumbled across Mr Dyer's remains while walking along the Castle Eden Walkway, near Wynyard, Billingham last weekend. His body was identified from dental records.

Detective Superintendent Stewart Swinson told Teesside Coroner Michael Sheffield that clothing found on the remains matched details of what the 49-year-old had been wearing when he was reported missing from home in April.

Thornaby-born Mr Dyer was reported missing by his wife, Linda, just hours after Teesside Crown Court heard him accused of sexually assaulting two schoolgirls.

One of the attacks was said to have taken place on the Castle Eden Walkway when his alleged victim had accompanied him walking his dog.

She told her family she had been molested and repeated the claim on police video tape, her sister claiming Mr Dyer had indecently assaulted her five times in her own home.

Dyer told police he had once tickled one of the girls in front of her mother, but denied three charges of assault between May and June, last year.