An inquest has been opened into the death of a man whose body was discovered in a cemetery in Stowmarket. 

The body of Matthew Rampley, aged 50, was found in Stowmarket's New Cemetery, off Violet Hill Road, on February 23 this year.  

Suffolk Coroners' Court in Ipswich heard on Friday that members of the public had called 999 at about 12.40pm after they discovered Mr Rampley’s body lying in the porch of a lock-gated chapel within the cemetery.  

The member of the public who alerted the emergency services said that they did not believe Mr Rampley was breathing, but they commenced with CPR even so.  

However, Mr Rampley could not be saved and he was pronounced dead when paramedics arrived on the scene. 

Speaking at the time of Mr Rampley’s death, leaders in Stowmarket expressed their condolences to his family, although Mr Rampley was not named at the time. 

David Blackburn is the town clerk of Stowmarket Town Council, which owns and manages the two cemeteries in the town. 

He said: "From our perspective, Suffolk police are investigating this very sad incident and Stowmarket Town Council will help them in any way we can. 

"We understand that the initial view of the police is that they do not believe there are any suspicious circumstances to the death. 

"We have much sympathy with the family and send our condolences to them." 

The mayor of Stowmarket, councillor Barry Salmon, also offered his condolences. 

He said: "I feel real sympathy to any friends and family of the individual who was found there, whatever the circumstances." 

The inquest is expected to continue on November 2.