Ananova:

Police chief Michael Todd may have killed himself because an affair with a leading businesswoman was about to be uncovered, it has been reported.

Mr Todd, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester Police, was found dead in Snowdonia on Tuesday as a result of a suspected suicide.

The Daily Express newspaper reported that the married father-of-three had been involved in affairs with several women, including police officers, a personal assistant and a local businesswoman. It was also suggested that the businesswoman's husband had discovered their relationship.

According to The Times newspaper, rescuers spent more than 12 hours looking in the wrong place for Mr Todd, as an attempt to locate him via his mobile phone signal led them close to the Menai Strait and Port Dinorwic, about 10 miles away from where he was eventually found.

It is unknown whether this delay stopped the emergency services from saving Mr Todd's life at the bottom of a cliff near Bwlch Glas. Sources said his body was discovered face down in the snow beside a half-empty bottle of gin.

Some news outlets have reported he had an illegitimate child and had separated from his wife, who lives in Nottinghamshire. It has also been suggested that letters addressed to his family have been found, but Greater Manchester Police said no notes were found at or near the scene.

Mr Todd, who had been tipped to succeed Sir Ian Blair as Britain's highest-ranking police officer, is believed to have sent worrying text messages on Monday afternoon, prompting the search.

A toxicology report is expected to be completed on Thursday morning, and an inquest into the 50-year-old's death will open at Anglesey Council Chamber.

The pathologist Dr Anthony Caslin will discuss his preliminary findings.

A post-mortem examination revealed "no obvious cause of death", coroner Dewi Pritchard Jones said. Other sources speculated that he may have died of hypothermia.