AN Oxford mum whose body was pulled from a river last month may have been suffering from mental health problems, an inquest heard yesterday.

Lorraine Easom, 55, had been missing for almost three weeks when she was found in the Cherwell, on Thursday, March 28.

Oxford Coroner's Court heard yesterday how the artist and nanny was pronounced dead at around 10am that day, after being pulled from the water near Sunnymead.

Police said that the Summertown mother – who had links to Kidlington as well as Oxford – had trouble walking far and normally used a bicycle as a walking aid, but the bike had been left at home when she disappeared.

Coroner Darren Salter said: "There was reports of her being unwell with mental health issues."

He continued: "She was found close to a river bank.

"There has been a post mortem but precise cause of death has not been made available."

Born in Lewisham, Ms Easom – who was also known as Claudia – went missing on March 8.

Her daughter had made a heartbreaking plea for information but the body was found off Water Eaton Road, in Summertown, close to Harpes Road, where she was last seen.

READ AGAIN: Lorraine Easom: daughter's heartbreaking call for help

At the time, police said they were treating the death as unexplained, adding that it was not believed to be suspicious.

The full inquest is scheduled to be conducted at the same court on Wednesday, August 7.