Bad weather has delayed by at least a month the inquest into the death of Sussex scientist Kirsty Brown, who was killed by a seal in the Antarctic.

Temperatures in the region are dropping to -71C and Falkland Islands coroner Nick Sanders, who is in charge of the inquiry, is unable to fly out to the British Antarctic Survey's base at Rothera.

A spokesman said: "A British Antarctic Survey aircraft is now in the Falkland Islands waiting for the first weather-window to make the six-hour flight to Rothera Research Station."

Miss Brown, 28 and from Horsham, was pulled underwater on July 23 by a leopard seal while she was snorkelling for the British Antarctic Survey at the research station.

She was with her snorkelling 'buddy' when the seal attacked without warning.

A rescue boat was launched immediately. Miss Brown's colleagues pulled her from the water and began resuscitation in the boat while transferring her to the research station.

The station doctor and colleagues performed cardio-pulmonary resuscitation for an hour but were unable to revive her.

Kirsty had been based at the station for more than a year.