A local government officer whose body was recovered from the River Ribble in December did not drown, an inquest heard.

The hearing was told that Julie Anne Johnson, 49, was receiving treatment for a malignant brain tumour at the time of her death but there was nothing to suggest she had taken her own life.

The inquest heard that on December 13, Mrs Johnson had been left on her own for the first time since treatment for her tumour had started.

At about 9.30am she was collected by a taxi and taken to the De Tabley Inn at Ribchester.

She waved to neighbours as she left and chatted to the driver as they travelled from her home in The Grange, Wilpshire.

The taxi driver dropped her off and Mrs Johnson was not seen again until an angler saw her body floating in the river three miles downstream at about 1.15 pm.

Mrs Johnson was a personnel officer at Hyndburn Council before she retired due to ill-health and to spend more time with her family.

Dr Richard Prescott, who carried out a post-mortem examination, said there was no evidence of drowning and it was clear at the moment Mrs Johnson was submerged, she was not breathing.

He said that in his opinion the most likely cause of death was the brain tumour.

Steven Johnson said his wife had maintained a very positive attitude even after being told she had a malignant brain tumour. Throughout radiotherapy and chemotherapy she had never taken to her bed.

"I had no concerns about her self-harming or anything like that," said Mr Johnson.

He said after Mrs Johnson disappeared, they found a photo album showing pictures from a friend's wedding which had been taken at the De Tabley.

Recording a natural causes verdict coroner Michael Singleton said it had probably come as a surprise to the family that Mrs Johnson had not drowned.

"Everybody probably assumed Mrs Johnson had gone to the river and simply taken her own life," said Mr Singleton. "That seems not to have been the case although we have no indication of how she came to be in the water."