MYSTERY surrounds the death of a man whose body was found decomposed in a pub car park.

Karl Wayne Humphries was found in the yard of the Hand Inn on Holt Road, Wrexham, on July 18 last year.

An inquest into his death was carried out by John Gittins, coroner for North East Wales and Central in Wrexham.

The inquest heard Mr Humphries, who was 46 and homeless at the time, was found by the landlord among furniture hidden under tarpaulin in the pub's back yard.

He was found in the foetal position surrounded by cans of Omega and Frosty Jack cider and was believed to have been there for a number of weeks.

Mr Gittins added although Mr Humphries' body was decomposed, police found a wallet with his name on bank cards, and he was identified at the Liverpool Royal Hospital from his dental records.

A statement by Mr Humphries daughter, Paige Roberts, was read out at the hearing at the Guildhall in Wrexham.

She said he previously lived on Holt Road, but after separating from her mother when she was young, had moved to Ellesmere Port and then Warrington.

She added that "he loved the outdoors" and had worked as a porter at Carden Park Hotel near Broxton.

Ms Roberts said Mr Humphries had health problems including diabetes and angina. He has suffered heart attacks and was alcohol dependent.

When he moved back to the area in March 2017 she said she was "shocked" that he looked rough, had lost weight and said he was staying in Llay.

He often popped in to the shop on Holt Road where she worked but stopped doing so after a while.

In a post-mortem examination report Dr Paul Johnson, of the Royal Liverpool Hospital, said: "The body demonstrated advanced decomposition.

"There are obvious signs of trauma but a lot of tissue from the body is missing. There are no clues as to any underlying diseases."

Dr Johnson added: "There is insufficient evidence to establish a cause of death."

Mr Gittins said that led to him to reach an open conclusion. The cause of Mr Humphries death was "unascertained", and although he was found on July 18 last year, it was likely Mr Humphries died some weeks earlier.

Addressing Mr Humphries' daughter, he added: "The loss of your dad under any circumstances is going to be difficult."