A popular pebble artist may have to be laid to rest in a welfare funeral if no family members can be tracked down.

Police and the coroner’s office are desperately trying to find relatives of George Barnett, a 39-year-old homeless man who drowned after jumping from the Palace Pier last month.

Mr Barnett, better known as “Dr Geebers the Pebbleman,” originated from Northern Ireland and made a name for himself with giant stone creations on Brighton beach.

Some of his most memorable scenes included a piano, a guitar, clowns, seagulls, and a castle.

The work, by the bandstand and the Volks Railway station in Madeira Drive, attracted crowds and media attention.

An inquest has been adjourned to July 8 and his body has been released to Brighton and Hove City Council for a funeral to be organised.

A Sussex Police spokesman said one of Mr Barnett’s children – who The Argus understands is 15 months old – has been traced but the coroner’s has been unsuccessful in finding any further family members. It is believed he has relatives in Ireland.

A council spokesman said an investigation will establish whether Mr Barnett meets the criteria for a welfare funeral.

A woman who found a bag full of his poetry and notes in Langdale Road in Hove is eager to return the belongings to a family relative.

The resident, who asked not to be named, made the discovery in September when she took her bins out and has been trying to return the work to the rightful owner ever since.

She learned of his death from reports in The Argus and contacted the newspaper in the hope of returning the poems to a relative.

She said: “I was taking the recycling out and I saw a little black bag by the bins.

“I went to check it in case someone had lost it or the person had been mugged and then the bag was discarded. I saw the notebooks full of poems which said they were by Dr Geebers.

“He wrote about his life in Brighton and homelessness.

“He was quite organised as he had made a lot of lists. I did a bit of research online and tracked down his blog and sent him a message but I never heard back.

“Then months later I read that he had died. It was really sad and shocking to read and I felt guilty I had not been able to return his work. I hope someone will read this and may know how to contact his family.”

The Argus has passed the information on to the coroner’s office to help with the investigation.

Anyone who might be able to help trace his next of kin should call police on 101 quoting 1195 of 07/03 or email 101@sussex.pnn.police.uk