A 65-YEAR-old grandfather and businessman had severe injuries to his face when he was found on the ground next to his pick-up truck, an inquest heard today (Wednesday).

Acting senior coroner for North West Wales Katie Sutherland opened an inquest at Caernarfon into the tragedy of Dafydd Price Thomas, a married and semi-retired company owner, at Minffordd, Gwynedd, last month. She said it had been reported to her that he was lying on the driveway approaching the farm where he lived.

Home Office pathologist Dr Brian Rodgers gave the provisional cause of death as inhalation of blood due to severe blunt trauma facial injuries.

A man has appeared in court accused of murder.

The coroner said: "I will review after any trial whether an inquest ought then to be held.”

Mr Thomas, whose birthday was days earlier, had been a director of Gwynedd Environmental Waste Services Limited (GEWS Ltd).