The "heroic" efforts of a group of friends to trace a missing man have been praised during an inquest into his death.

Sam Marranzini was found dead in a wooded area in Gaywood known as the Rookery on August 29 last year, almost a month after he was last seen alive.

An inquest into his death heard a series of difficult circumstances in his life in the months leading up to the incident.

But it also heard that a group of his friends had made extensive efforts to track him down after he was last seen on August 3.

The group, led by Andrew Frost, searched far and wide for their missing friend, visiting several of his regular haunts, carrying out door-to-door enquiries and approaching as many mutual contacts as possible.

Area coroner Yvonne Blake described the group's efforts as "heroic" and a "tribute to how much they cared".

Meanwhile, Mrs Blake also said police investigations had completely debunked rumours that the 25-year-old from Gayon had been murdered.

She said: "There were various pieces of misinformation put on Facebook and rumours that he had been murdered which were not substantiated in any way, shape or form.

"There was not a scrap of evidence that anyone else was involved in his sad death."

The court heard in the lead-up to his disappearance, Mr Marranzini was on police bail amid allegations of criminal damage and was fearing a prison sentence.

He was also facing financial difficulties, eviction from property and recently suffered the end of a relationship.

In a statement read to the court, his mother Victoria Rowe said his death had "left a gaping hole" in her life.

Mrs Blake concluded his death to be suicide.

If you need help and support, Samaritans can be reached on 116 123. Alternatively, the NHS First Response Service for mental health crisis is on 111 option 2.