A BUSKER who was pulled from the River Foss on New Year's Day still had his guitar strapped to his back.

At the opening of the inquest into the death of Kingsley Geoffrey Hoffman, of Feversham Crescent in York, coroner Donald Coverdale said Mr Hoffman was a mature student and musician.

He said: "His body was found in the River Foss in York some 600 yards upstream of Heworth Bridge. He was fully clothed and was found carrying a guitar on his back."

He said that Mr Hoffman was confirmed dead at the scene at around 3.25pm on New Year's Day and a post-mortem examination subsequently carried out by Dr Nigel Cooper, a forensic pathologist, found the cause of death "to be consistent with drowning".

Mr Coverdale said police had identified the 48-year-old using his fingerprints.

Police are still appealing for witnesses who saw Mr Hoffman before his death.

DS Guy Wilson, of York CID, said a new witness had come forward who had seen Mr Hoffman at 4.15am in Dodsworth Avenue in the early hours of New Year's Day.

Mr Hoffman was a student at York St John University and was a well known busker around the city. He was also a former caller at Mecca Bingo, in Fishergate, and was a member of the York Shakespeare Project.

Police say he was seen in Dodsworth Avenue at 2.45am on the day he died, Haxby Road at 4am and then back in Dodsworth Avenue at 4.15am.

Mr Hoffman was white, of medium build, with receding brown/grey hair, and was last seen wearing a black leather jacket, blue round-neck jumper, white shirt, black trousers and black shoes. He was also carrying his guitar.

Anybody with any information about his final hours should phone York Police on 0845 6060247.