Inquest opens after missing miner's remains found

Alfred Swinscoe went missing in 1967 after he was seen drinking at a pub

An inquest into the death of a miner whose remains were found more than 50 years after he went missing has been opened and adjourned.

Alfred Swinscoe's remains were discovered in a field on farmland in Nottinghamshire in April 2023, after police said he was last seen drinking at a pub in 1967.

A hearing at Nottingham Coroner's Court on Wednesday heard DNA analysis matched the bones to one of his sons.

Police recently identified two murder suspects thought to have been involved in Mr Swinscoe's death.

Assistant coroner Rebecca Covington said a provisional cause of death had "not yet been determined".

Last week, Nottinghamshire Police confirmed it had identified the suspects, though both are no longer alive.

Officers believe Mr Swinscoe was murdered and then buried in a grave between 4ft (1.2m) and 6ft (1.8m) deep.

Police spent three weeks at the field after Mr Swinscoe's remains were found

Mr Swinscoe lived in the Derbyshire village of Pinxton, and since the age of 14 had worked at Langton Colliery as a "cutter", known for operating a machine that cut large chunks of coal out of the coal face for others to then break down.

He had the nickname "Sparrow", and was also known as "Champion Pigeon Man of Pinxton", due to his love of pigeon racing.

Four of his six children are still alive and he has a number of grandchildren.

It is believed Mr Swinscoe was drinking with his two sons and friends on the night of his disappearance.

Police are continuing to appeal for information over his death, with Mr Swinscoe's final movements recreated as part of a BBC Crimewatch appeal in October.

The inquest will resume at a date that is yet to be fixed.

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