MUM Jayne Langley does not think she will ever be able to prove what happened the night her son disappeared, a month before his body was found.

Mrs Langley, of Unity Street, Chippenham, believes many questions are still to be answered about December 18, the night her son Stuart Johnson did not come home.

Mr Johnson, 22, had spent the night out with friends, but vanished during the evening.

His body was found on January 19 in the River Avon at the weir near Chippenham town centre.

A coroner's inquest into the death was opened on Wednesday and was due to finish yesterday at Chippenham Magistrates' Court.

Mrs Langley, who has vowed she will not rest until she finds the truth about her son's death, told Wiltshire Coroner David Masters she did not know why her son had dressed in old clothes on the night he disappeared.

She said he had a wardrobe full of designer clothes.

She also questioned why her son changed his mind about going out with players from the Black Horse Football Club.

Instead, she said, he had gone to visit his friend, Martin Riley.

"I feel he had to meet somebody," she said.

The inquest heard Mr Johnson, a ground worker for North Wiltshire Direct Services, had gone to Mr Riley's house.

He had a few drinks and set off with friends for another drink at the Rose and Crown in the town centre.

Mr Masters said the weather was cold and snowy that night and Mr Johnson had lagged behind the others.

The group continued to the pub, but Mr Johnson never arrived.

Later, a group of teenagers met Mr Johnson in the alley between London Road and Wood Lane.

One Chippenham teenager said she saw her friend pull back a fist to hit Mr Johnson.

Forensic pathologist Dr Alan Anscombe said Mr Johnson had a black eye and a small bruise on his thigh.

But he said the cause of death was immersion in water, either through drowning or if his heart had stopped.

The inquest was due to finish yesterday.

Speaking after the first day of the inquest, Mrs Langley said it was going much as she expected.

"I don't think I shall ever be able to prove what happened that night," she said.

But she said she would continue to fight for the truth.