A KEEN swimmer drowned in the Tenerife pool where he swam 20 lengths every morning, a coroner has reported.

The body of former North-East man Albert Janes, 70, was found at the bottom of the pool at the Castle Harbour complex where he lived in Los Cristianos, Tenerife.

Mr Janes was a founder member and former chairman of Billingham Amateur Swimming Club, Teesside.

He was also a former president of the Northumberland and Durham Counties Amateur Swimming Association.

His son Stephen, 45, of Petrel Close, Norton, Stockton, said his family were waiting for the autopsy report and to have the documents translated.

"According to the coroner's report he drowned, which I find very strange," he said.

"He swam 20 lengths every day most of the time he was in Tenerife. He was a good swimmer.

"He always liked swimming. It was his passion," he said.

Mr Janes was also a judge, starter and time-keeper for the Amateur Swimming Association.

His son followed his interests and is vice-chairman of the Wear Valley Swimming Club.

"In my eyes he died happy doing what he liked best - swimming - in the place he loved, which was Tenerife," said Mr Janes.

Mr Janes senior had lived on the island for the past 14 years.

A memorial service will be held today, at 1.30pm, in St Cuthbert's Church, Billingham Green.

It will be followed by burial of his ashes in Billingham cemetery.

Mr Janes, a former foreman at the Billingham locomotive sheds, also worked for ICI for 35 years. Previously, he had guided planes for the RAF.