Inquests have been opened and adjourned into the deaths of three Wootton Bassett parents who died trying to save their children from strong sea currents off a beach in Portugal.

The bodies of Robert Fry, 52, Deborah Rose Fry, 48, and Barbara Jean Dinsmore, 43, were returned to Britain on Sunday.

The trio died off Praia do Tonel beach near Sagres on the Algarve last Monday. Their children were washed ashore with minor injuries.

Deputy coroner for Wiltshire Peter Hatvany, sitting in Salisbury, adjourned proceedings until a date to be fixed, when a full inquest into how all three died will be heard.

The bodies will be released from the coroner's custody to allow funerals to take place, police said.