Inquests have been opened into the deaths of a couple who were found dead beneath cliffs in Whitby. North Yorkshire coroner, Jon Heath, said that David Jeffcock, 80, and his wife Susan, 74, died on July 30 at East Cliff, Whitby.

The preliminary cause of death for Mr and Mrs Jeffcock was cited as "multi-trauma". Both were found dead beneath the cliffs, the inquest was told. Their identities were verified by the police. The court in Northallerton was told that the couple resided in Whitby.

Mr Heath adjourned the brief inquest hearing to a future date yet to be determined. It has been reported that the couple were observed "hand-in-hand" just moments before the tragedy.

According to reports, the couple had been strolling on a footpath near Whitby Abbey. The incident triggered a significant emergency response involving police, ambulances, mountain rescue teams and a coastguard helicopter, reports Yorkshire Live.

Police later confirmed that two bodies had been retrieved from the bottom of the cliff. Online tributes described Mr and Mrs Jeffcock as a "lovely couple".