A man whose body was found in the River Orwell after he was believed to have fallen from the Orwell Bridge has been named as Philip Morgan, of Norwich Road, Ipswich.

The 34-year-old was discovered in water in the area of Cliff Quay four days before Christmas.

An inquest into Mr Morgan’s death is due to be opened and adjourned today at Lowestoft Register Office in Gordon Road.

His body was found nearly a month after police said they had received a report of an apparently distressed man falling from the Orwell Bridge.

The incident occurred at around 11.30am on November 27.

A motorist had contacted police concerned about the man’s welfare.

However, officers were unable to locate him despite an extensive search during which they called in the coastguard to help.

In an effort to locate and identify the man police subsequently issued a photograph of a pair of blue Nike trainers which were found on the bridge.

A description of the person involved was also issued.

However, there was no trace of the man until Mr Morgan’s body was discovered at 8.45am on December 21.

Police were alerted after he was seen by passing sailors.

Mr Morgan’s body was recovered by the Harwich inshore lifeboat, the crew of which used the Orwell Yacht Club’s slipway where they were met by police and coastguard units.

At the time police said they were unable to say whether the man pulled from the river was the same man who was seen falling from the bridge.