A MAN was found face down in water in a ditch next to a busy Flintshire road, an inquest heard.

Terence Joseph Moores, 60, from Stockport, was found dead in a ditch off the A548 (Coast Road) near Gronant on the evening of January 24, 2020.

An inquest held in Ruthin on Friday (October 16) into Mr Moores' death heard that he had developed a serious drinking problem and likely slipped into the water-filled ditch while intoxicated, before drowning.

The inquest heard that Mr Moores, a father-of-one, had been seen "staggering" along the A548 between Gronant and Prestatyn - where his family had a caravan - by a local campsite owner on January 21.

The ditch in question is described as a "narrow, deep water trench with steep sides".

The inquest heard evidence from a witness, Jade Messham, who had been on the upper deck of a bus which was travelling along the A548 on January when she spotted what she thought was two legs in the ditch running alongside the road. 

But it was not until three days later that Ms Messham, travelling the same journey, was able to make a clear observation of what at that stage she could see was a body in the ditch. 

Police attended the scene and discovered the body of man, later identified as Terence Joseph Moores, lying face down in the water-filled ditch - with his body said to already be in a state of decomposition. 

A post-mortem examination undertaken by Dr Brian Rogers into Mr Moores' death found nothing to suggest that he had either been pushed or struck by a vehicle.

Toxicology tests found Mr Moores' system contained 128mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood - deemed a sufficient amount for someone to lose balance and to fall.

A provisional cause of death was recorded as drowning with intoxication a contributory factor.

Recording a conclusion of accidental death, David Pojur, assistant coroner for North Wales East and Central, deemed that on the balance of probability Mr Moores, a former support worker, slipped down the embankment while intoxicated and drowned.

It was said to be possible that Mr Moores may have been urinating at the time he slipped, or that he simply slipped while walking alongside the ditch.

The inquest heard a statement from Mr Moores' estranged wife, Janet, which said he was a "lovely man" but whose drinking "got out of control".