BETTY Yates, the former school teacher who was murdered at her remote cottage in Bewdley had been stabbed in the neck, an inquest was told.

The body of Betty Yates was found at the foot of her stairs at her riverside home just outside the town, Worcestershire Coroner's Court in Stourport heard today.

The cause of death was given provisionally as stab wounds to the neck at the inquest following a post- mortem examination which was carried out two days later.

Opening and adjourning the inquest at Worcestershire Coroner's Court, coroner Geraint Williams released the body of Mrs Yates, back to the family for a funeral service.

The hearing was adjourned until March 1 for further inquiries to be made and where the progress of the case will be reviewed.

Officers went to Mrs Yates' cottage on the morning of Wednesday, January 4, after they were alerted by a friend who was concerned for the 77-year-old's welfare.

They found the body of the widow at the foot of her stairs.

West Mercia Police have launched a murder inquiry into Mrs Yates's death and investigations are continuing.

A knife, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered at the scene.