COLLEAGUES and patients are mourning the death of a dentist whose body was discovered in a North-East field.

An inquest into the death of Dennis Neville, who worked at the Victoria Road dental practice, in Darlington, will open shortly, after his body was found next to a shotgun.

Neighbours in Greta Bridge, near Barnard Castle, County Durham, had been searching for 43-year-old Mr Neville after not seeing him for some time. They made the discovery in fields to the rear of The Square, last Thursday.

An ambulance crew was called, but Mr Neville was pronounced dead at about 7.30pm.

Mr Neville was a father and was understood to have been separated from his wife.

A police spokesman said last night there were no suspicious circumstances.