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Wearmouth, who represents Morpeth Kirkhill and is bidding for re-election, told the hustings he was "disappointed".

Natalie Younes, the Liberal Democrat candidate for the Morpeth North ward, also said she was disappointed the A1 project had "stalled".

However, she explained her party would focus on "smaller-scale projects that can have a big impact - for example, improving the safety of travel east to west by improving junctions and crossings, and tackling the choke points in Berwick, Alnwick and Morpeth".

The coroner adjourned the inquest at County Hall in Morpeth and said the hearing would conclude on 1 April.

The alarm was raised after a pupil saw a man entering woodland in the Mitford Road area of Morpeth, Northumberland, at about 09:00 GMT.