A TEACHER whose body was found at the Carlton Marshes nature reserve had died as a result of alcohol poisoning, an inquest heard yesterday.

Vincent Ward's body was found on the Suffolk Wildlife Trust reserve on the afternoon of Friday, January 21, after had had failed to return home the previous evening.

Mr Ward, 47, was last seen by his wife Delphine, a French teacher, at their home in Rushdown Drive, Carlton Colville, as he left for work on the morning of January 20.

His disappearance sparked a major search involving police, the South Broads RNLI, coastguard search teams and Norfolk Lowland Search and Rescue Team.

The inquest, at Lowestoft Magistrates Court, heard that a post mortem examination showed Mr Ward, who taught maths at Lothingland Middle School in Lound, had died from 'alcohol toxicity'. However, Coroner Yvonne Blake said the actual circumstances of how he died would never be known.

'Mr Ward was a gentleman with a history of depression and problem of working issues,' she said. 'The cause of death was given as alcohol toxicity.

'He went missing on January 20 and was found on January 21.

'We will never know what happened to Mr Ward on the day he went missing. I simply offer my condolences to Mrs Ward and her family.

The coroner recorded a narrative verdict, stating Mr Ward was found on open marsh land, having died from alcohol poisoning.

At the time of Mr Ward's death, the headteacher of Lothingland Middle School, Paul Morton, said: 'This is extremely sad news. Vincent was well liked by everyone at the school and will be sadly missed.'

Pupils also paid tribute to Mr Ward through the Journal's website. One said: 'R.I.P mr ward ill never forget about you, best teacher in the worldxx' and another said that he was a 'well nice man'.