A WOMAN whose body was found at Mudeford Quay on Christmas Eve had been reported missing thirteen days earlier, a hearing has heard.

Sarah Louise Moore, aged 54, of Fairmile Road, Christchurch, had been the focus of a large scale search operation involving police, dozens of rescue volunteers and the police helicopter.

Members of the public also organised their own searches for the missing Christchurch mum.

However, her body was found close to the shoreline at Mudeford Quay by a member of the public walking his dog.

On Wednesday, coroner Brendan Allen opened and adjourned an inquest into the death of the former care home assistant at Dorset Coroner's Court, Bournemouth Town Hall.

During this short hearing, Mr Allen read from a statement prepared by coroner's officer Ken McEwan.

Mr Allen said: "Sarah Moore was a high risk missing person having gone missing from her home address on December 11, 2019.

"Concerns were raised about her welfare.

"On December 24, 2019, a member of the public, walking his dog at Mudeford Quay, found her body in the water close to the shoreline."

Police attended the scene and confirmed there were no suspicious circumstances.

Following a post mortem examination the cause of death was recorded as immersion in water and codeine intoxication.

Mr Allen formally opened and adjourned the inquest to allow for statements to be collected from her family, her GP, police, and to see whether she was known to the local mental health team.

The inquest was adjourned until October 6.

Speaking on Boxing Day, 2019, after Sarah's body was found at Mudeford Quay, Chief Inspector Danny Thompson, of Dorset Police, said: “Our thoughts are with Sarah's family at what must be an incredibly difficult time for them, especially given the time of year.

“We would like to thank all those who assisted with searches and shared our appeals over recent days.”