A TEACHER died after being hit by a train on the Coast Line between Tyneside and Teesside in November, an inquest heard.

Maria Johnson, 27, of Fifth Street, Horden, was hit by the Northern Rail service travelling from Newcastle to Nunthorpe, near the Blackhills Farm crossing point, not far from her home, at about dusk. She was decapitated.

Driver Leslie Pigg said the train hit what he at first thought was rubbish that had blown onto the line, but stopped the train to check and found a body.

Sergeant Nigel Ashworth, of British Transport Police, said Miss Johnson was lying at a 90 degree angle to the line.

"It did appear strange to myself and the officers at the scene for someone to be lying with their hands in their pockets if they were fully conscious."

He said a nearly empty whisky bottle was found nearby.

Her boyfriend, Robert Foster, of Easington Colliery, did not think she was upset when he saw her earlier in the day

The inquest also heard that police found no suicide note and discovered she had been looking for Christmas presents on the website, ebay, and had plans to go out with her boyfriend.

A toxicology report revealed she had drunk a considerable amount of alcohol and there were traces of cocaine.

The jury returned an open verdict after Deputy Durham Coroner Brenda Davidson said they had to be sure beyond reasonable doubt that Miss Johnson, who taught at Shotton Hall School, Peterlee, planned to kill herself.