THE family of a missing Weymouth social worker hit out after a mix-up at a morgue meant they were still looking for him five days after he died.

An inquest heard that Peter Stephen May, 44, was found hanged in Weymouth, but that he was confused with another man by a doctor after his death.

Deputy West Dorset Coroner Alan Horne apologised for the confusion and distress after recording an open verdict at an inquest in Dorchester.

Christopher May, the brother of Peter May, said: "This misidentification caused us enormous distress.

"If the doctor was not sure, they should have said something.

"It made it more difficult to come to terms with what had happened.

"We were waiting for five days and thought he may have been alive."

But Mr May praised the police and coroner's officer Bob Hoare for the way they handled the death and general situation.

The inquest heard that Mr May was being treated for depression at Linden Clinic in Weymouth - where he had sent some of his own clients and knew staff.

Penny Gray, clinic unit manager, said that Mr May had talked of his marriage problems and blamed himself for the difficulties.

PC Jason Funnell told the inquest that dog walker Claire Randell found Mr May in a clearing near a footpath approaching Chafeys Avenue in Weymouth.

The inquest was told that Mr May, who was found hanging from a branch by a boot lace, went for a walk and told staff he was going swimming on the day he died.

Mr May, who was a senior practitioner with the Bridport child protection team at the time, had suffered from depression 15 years earlier.

Dr El-Komy, from the Forston Clinic, said Mr May had talked of drowning himself in the past.

Mr Horne said: "The treatment appeared to be working and he appeared to be improving."

He added: "There is no evidence as to what was in Mr May's mind.

"There is no evidence that he intended the consequence of his actions so I have recorded an open verdict."

He said Mr May's family had his sympathy and that he was sorry for any confusion.