THE inquest into the deaths of those killed in the Boxing Day tsunami will be held next week.

At least six people from the York area are thought to have died in the tragedy: Stephen Magson, of York, who ran a business in Sherburn-in-Elmet; Sarah Bent, 19, of Copmanthorpe, and her boyfriend, Robert Rowbottom, of Pocklington, friends Benjamin Watts, 29, and Nova Mills, 28, of Holme-upon-Spalding-Moor, and aid worker Robin Needham, formerly of Helmsley.

This week North Yorkshire Police Detective Chief Inspector Neil Thewsey will return home from Thailand to tell their families that he is closing the case.

Mr Thewsey, 52, has spent 47 weeks scouring the Thai holiday island of Phi Phi without success and only now has reluctantly agreed to call off the search.

He said: "The only explanation is that Robert and Sarah and all the others were swept out to sea and the sea won't give them back."

His search has met with opposition from some of Thailand's politicians who argue that the time for grieving is over and that as the anniversary approaches the money would be better spent on the clear-up operation.

The bodies of Benjamin and Nova were found earlier this year.

Nova's parents, David and Deidre Mills, have said they would not be going to London for the inquest.

Mr Mills, 58, said: "We won't be going down to London, because as far as we are concerned our daughter's body was found in June and the case is closed, but I can understand why people would want to go if their loved ones bodies have yet to be found.

"I think it's only fair that the police conclude their investigations and come home after such a long time out in Thailand."

The couple now plan to go out to Thailand in the spring.

Nova was on holiday with her partner, Andrew Chaggar, when disaster struck.

Andrew, from Leicester, survived and has spent the intervening months working as a volunteer helping rebuild the local community.

A massive appeal launched by the Evening Press, along with City of York Council, raised tens of thousands of pounds for the disaster fund.

Worldwide, billions have been donated by the international community to help communities in stricken areas to start the rebuilding process.

Updated: 09:55 Tuesday, November 29, 2005