POLICE investigating the death of shopworker William Lawson, who was found face down in a brook in Aldbourne at the weekend, believe it was probably a tragic accident.

Mr Lawson, 44, who lived in Claridge Close, Aldbourne, with his wife, Mandy, and eight-year-old son, was discovered in the brook from which the village takes its name at about 8.30am on Sunday. He was about 60 yards from his home.

Friends had joined a search party after his distraught wife had reported to police that he had failed to arrive home on Saturday night after going for a drink in the village.

Thatcher Andy Alldis, a friend of Mr Lawson, found his body in the Ald Bourne.

Police cordoned off the area around the brook and the CID was brought in to investigate the tragedy.

A post mortem examination was due to be held yesterday at Swindon's Princess Margaret Hospital. Wiltshire Coroner David Masters has been informed and is expected to open an inquest today.

Det Sgt Simon James said Mr Lawson, who worked at the Alldays shop in the village, had been drinking in the Aldbourne Sports and Social Club on Saturday evening.

"We believe he left the club at about 11.30pm on but did not arrive home," he said. "We believe he was on his way home when for whatever reason he ended up in the water."

Det Sgt James said there must have been other people making their way home at the time and he appealed for anyone who saw Mr Lawson to contact him at Marlborough Police Station on (01672) 512311.

Police said they were keeping an open mind about Mr Lawson's death pending the outcome of the post mortem examination and their investigations, but felt it could be a tragic accident.

Mrs Lawson has been too distraught to speak but the manager of Alldays, Colin Wood, said: "Mr Lawson was a good hard-working employee. He was a real family man and will be greatly missed."