THE FAMILY of a missing Ilkley walker is to finally lay him to rest after months of anguish as relief workers searched for him in Russia's remote Caucasus Mountains.

John Stiles disappeared on a ten-hour hike in the mountains in North Ossetia last November.

His body was eventually found on July 18 and recovered by helicopter, after a brightly coloured object was spotted on high ground the day before.

He was initially identified by personal possessions found on him, believed to have included his wedding ring.

An inquest into his death was opened an adjourned at Bradford Coroners Court on Tuesday. It heard that hospital surgery notes from 15 years ago were matched with a post mortem x-ray to confirm the body was that of the missing Ilkley father-of-two.

Meccano-like steelwork had been fitted in Mr Stiles' pelvic area by surgeons at St James's in Leeds after he had a climbing accident in 1999. His wife Isabelle had told coroners officers in the UK about her husband's past operation.

He has now been repatriated, and his funeral is to take place at St John Fisher and St Thomas More Roman Catholic Church, Burley-in-Wharfedale, on Friday, October 17.

The 52-year-old was an experienced mountain walker and climber, the inquest heard during its opening. The proceedings have now been adjourned to wait for more information and reports from the Russian authorities through the Foreign Commonwealth office.

Emergency relief organisation EMERCOM had worked in conjunction with Russian Civil Defence since Mr Stiles was reported missing in November.

It was heard a post mortem in Russia found Mr Stiles had died from a head injury as a result of blunt force trauma - he had been commuting between Ilkley and Russia while working in Grozny as a Country Director for the Danish Refugee Council (DRC) for the last two years. He helped Chechen families displaced by the wars with Russia on housing, legal aid and income generation projects.

Assistant Bradford coroner Dr Dominic Bell was told Russian police had carried out an investigation and at this time there did not appear to be any suspicious circumstances.

Mrs Stiles spoke of her shock but relief that her husband had been found and the search for him was at an end.

She said: "It was a big, big shock, but somehow it was also a huge relief. We're going to get him back and we're going to bury him in Ilkley Cemetery. When he was missing it was an unreal situation, it's quite consuming. It's hard to share that experience with others, it's not something you can relate to unless you've been in this situation."

Mr Stiles also leaves his mother, and two children, Hugo and Poppy.

"John travelled all around the world but this time it is his last journey," said Mrs Stiles.

" We will miss him so much as he was a great man and a very supportive husband and loving and fun Dad."

She says she continues to talk to and share a lot with his parents and sister.

His career also saw him undertake humanitarian aid projects in North Iraq, where he met Isabelle through their work for the Kurds.

He was a dedicated scout and scout leader in his youth, and volunteered for the 1st Ben Rhydding Scout Group.

Mrs Stiles said anyone was welcome to attend the funeral service at 11am. She requested that any flowers should be white, and asked that any donations are made to the Danish Refugee Council or similar international organisation of their choice.

The burial will be private.

The Danish Refugee Council described Mr Stiles as "very respected in the organsation and a very pleasant man".

The family travelled together abroad for seven years on projects in Angola, Serbia, Macedonia and Pakistan before settling in Ilkley.