The family of Chris May admit the open verdict delivered into his death is "extremely difficult" to accept.

A full inquest held at Chelmsford Coroner's Court this morning revealed Mr May's body had been found hanging by a tree back on May 13, 2018 - nearly three years after he was last seen leaving his home in Kelvedon.

Speaking after the open verdict was delivered in court, Mr May's family say they will never come to terms with his death having spent much of three years he was missing searching for answers.

In a statement, they said: "The information which has now been heard at the inquest today has been extremely difficult for us to come to terms with.

"Nothing changes the horrendous truth that Chris is physically gone from our lives.

"The whole family has found life very difficult since Chris went missing in 2015, especially with the added element of being in the media spotlight.

"I'm not sure we will ever come to terms with losing Chris and every one of us has changed because of it. Chris is always in our thoughts and still loved as much as ever.

"We ask that the media continues to respect our needs as a family to grieve in private for Chris and try to get on with living the rest of our lives as best we can without him."