A CORONER returned an open verdict on a Bewdley woman who was found dead in the town's river.

The body of Janet Cooper, 65, of Lambourne Drive, a retired greengrocer's shop assistant, was recovered from the River Severn just before 10am on July 6.

The inquest into her death was told by Coroner Victor Round she had been suffering from depression for seven years and in the two months before she died her condition had worsened.

He added that four days before her death Miss Cooper, who was unmarried and known to most people as Ann, had returned to the home she shared with her younger sister, Dawn, after receiving respite care in a local nursing home.

Her family had said she had not been eating properly and she seemed detached and lacking in emotion, he added.

On the morning of her death, she waved her sister off to work at 7.55am. Transport which called for her at the house to take her to a psychiatric day centre received no reply and, at 8.25am, Miss Cooper, who could not swim, was seen in the river by a member of the public who alerted the emergency services. She had been fully clothed and was wearing her glasses.

Her sister had reported her missing after she arrived home at 12.45pm for a meeting with social services concerning Miss Cooper, which she had been aware of. She had found the house empty and Miss Cooper's handbag was still there.

Dr George Kondratowicz gave the cause of death as drowning. There had been no indication of any excess levels of drugs and no significant injuries, Mr Round said.

Recording an open verdict, Mr Round said he had not been convinced Miss Cooper intended to harm herself.

She had left no note and a psychiatric report did not help him reach a decision.

"I have also noticed in previous cases that older people take off their spectacles if they are going to do something deliberate," he said.

"It may have been an accident. It is left as a question mark and I am afraid we will never know," he added.