The circumstances surrounding the death of an Oxfordshire soldier found dead at his army barracks remain a mystery, an inquest was told today.

Private Mark Payne, 32, of 4 Logistic Support Regiment based at Dalton Barracks in Abingdon, was set to return to Iraq in May, where he had already completed a tour of duty.

But on the morning of March 30 this year, colleagues became concerned when he did not arrive for morning parade.

His troop commander went to Pte Payne's room to investigate, thinking the soldier had either overslept or gone on leave early.

But when he opened the door, he found Pte Payne's body behind it with a ligature around his neck.

Army medics were called, but he could not be resuscitated.

A post-mortem examination later revealed Pte Payne, from Grimsby, North East Lincolnshire, had died of hanging, with toxicology tests showing he had drunk the equivalent of three pints of beer.

Oxfordshire Coroner Nicholas Gardiner recorded an open verdict, saying there was insufficient evidence to say Pte Payne had meant to take his own life.

No suicide note had been left in the room, and he had no history of mental illness, the inquest was told.

Mr Gardiner said: "Suicide cannot be presumed. It must be proved."

He added of his verdict: "It does not mean I have any nasty suspicions, it is simply that the evidence is insufficient to record any other verdict."

Thames Valley Police investigated the death, but said there were no suspicious circumstances.