The family of a father-of-two who was found dead in a river months after going missing questioned CCTV evidence shown at his inquest today.

North London Coroner’s Court in Barnet heard earlier this week Ambrose Ball disappeared after a night out at The Fox pub in Palmers Green, Enfield, in January last year.

The 30-year-old was reported missing on January 24 when the wreckage of his car was found in Watermead Way, on the border of Tottenham and Walthamstow.

A few months later in April 22 his body was discovered in the River Lea.

In court today his mother, Ruth Lovell, questioned police officers about how they collected CCTV evidence of Mr Ball, firstly in The Fox shortly before midnight, and subsequently in a newsagents at around 3am the day he went missing.

She disputes the police's argument that he was wearing the same clothes in both locations, suggesting Mr Ball's jacket was different.

Playing the original CCTV in court, Coroner Andrew Walker said he hoped it would help "put your mind to rest on a number of matters that must have been deeply troubling to you over the last few month".

Mr Walker was satisfied after seeing "direct evidence" that Mr Ball's clothes were the same and said "fears camera sections had been spliced in should fall away".

He said: "It's my inquiry, I have to be satisfied the original footage could not have been tampered with."

The inquest into the death of Mr Ball began on Monday, January 11, and is expected to continue until Wednesday, January 20.

The court heard on Monday that a toxicology test on Mr Ball's blood had found evidence that he had used cocaine and cannabis prior to his death.

It was not clear how much was in his system - not enough to kill him but it was likely he was still feeling the effects from taking cocaine when he died.

Dr Simon Poole, a Home Office pathologist, suggested Mr Ball had drowned.

The inquest continues.