A REVELLER killed by a train in Widnes must have crossed a bridge over the Mersey from his home town of Runcorn without realising it.

Police believe Cliff Hall, 21, who had been drinking heavily with friends, had intended to head for home along a train track.

But once he realised he had walked all the way to Widnes, he turned around and was struck from behind by a freight train at Ditton viaduct at 2.55am on September 8 last year.

Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rhein-berg said Mr Hall's final movements remained a mystery.

An inquest jury in Warrington on Monday returned an accidental death verdict after hearing that Mr Hall, an electrician's mate, of Clarks Terrace, had been drinking and had no history of suicide threats.

John Stockley was driving a loaded freight train near Ditton viaduct when he heard a noise.

He said: 'There was a bang. It seemed to come from the front and to the left. I didn't see a thing. I thought I might have hit something but you do hear bangs on occasion.

'At Runcorn Station, I stopped to look but there was nothing.'

Mr Rheinberg said: 'How on earth did he get to that point? It can only be regarded as a theory that Mr Hall had walked in the wrong direction.'