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A retired teacher from Caerphilly drowned in the flooded River Conwy while out walking his dog, an inquest opening has heard.

Brian Perry, of Porset Drive, Castle Park, was reported missing during Storm Bert on Saturday November 23 after taking his collie dog for a walk in the village of Trefriw, near Llanrwst, Conwy, north Wales.

At a hearing in Ruthin, Denbighshire, the senior coroner for North Wales East and Central, John Gittins, said he was told by North Wales Police that Mr Perry and his wife Catherine had set out on the walk together – but that Mr Perry had went on alone.

It was said that he knew the area well and was wearing waterproof clothing.

Later, Mrs Perry spoke to her husband on the phone and reported him missing when she could no longer get a reply from him.

Mr Gittens said: “She said she may have heard him shouting.”

Authorities including the HM Coastguard and mountain rescue searched until 9pm before resuming the following morning.

Mr Perry’s body was later found by an underwater search team in Gower Road, Trefriw, where the water had been chest-high.

Pathologist Dr Mark Atkinson gave the provisional cause of death as drowning.

The inquest was adjourned to a later date.

In a tribute released through North Wales Police at the time of Mr Perry’s death, his family thanked police and rescue services for their efforts in finding “our much-loved husband, father, brother and grandfather”.

They described him as being “held in great affection by his extended family and many friends.”

They added: “There are no words to describe our feeling of loss but he will be truly loved every day.”