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Police could still bring criminal charges over the death riddle of MI6 spy Gareth Williams, the inquest heard.

Lawyers for Scotland Yard tried to block the coroner from releasing to the media video footage which could be key to a prosecution.

Investigations into the discovery of Mr Williams' body in a sports holdall in his bath had drawn a 21-month blank for detectives.

But speaking at the opening of the inquest into his death, Metropolitan Police barrister Vincent Williams said charges were still a "real possibility".

He warned a "careful line must be struck between open justice" at the inquest and the ongoing criminal investigation.

Explaining Scotland Yard's objection to some material going into the public domain, the lawyer said: "It is because there is a live complex ongoing investigation taking place.

"It is because there may be criminal proceedings further down the line that the Commissioner feels that the pattern of disclosure... has to be done with some care."

Footage gathered by investigators includes a video taken on Mr Williams' mobile phone, the inquest heard.

Barrister Caoilfhionn Gallagher, representing three broadcasters and five national newspaper groups, applied to Coroner Fiona Wilcox for photographs, video and documents referred to during the inquest to be supplied to the media.

Mr Williams's family objects to the release to the media of a video of an expert trying to lock himself in the bag in which the spy's body was found.

The coroner suggested that the expert, Peter Faulding, could have his face pixelated out.

She said: "I understand him not wishing his identity to be published, but when he took the instructions to produce the video, he knew what he was producing it for. He knew it would be shown in court."

But Anthony O'Toole, lawyer for Mr Williams's relatives, expressed concerns that it would be "upsetting" for the family if the "speculative" film were released more widely.

"The family are anxious to ensure that that reconstruction does not become bandied about the various media outlets, both in this country and abroad," he said.

He added: "We are anxious as a family not to do anything to impede somebody in due course hopefully being brought to account for this - if there is somebody who should be brought to account."

The inquest also heard that luxury fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana has not given permission for the media to be given CCTV footage of Mr Williams shopping in central London taken from cameras at one of its stores.