A PENSIONER died after he sat down on a main rail line and was struck by a train, an inquest heard.

William Hollywood, known as Billy, was killed when he was hit by the 6.16pm Aberdeen to Leeds train in September last year.

The 72-year-old, who lived alone in Widdrington, Northumberland, had began acting strangely in the weeks leading up to his death, his neighbours told the court.

He was spotted by a dog walker walking northbound on the East Coast Main Line just south of Widdrington Station, between Widdrington and Ulgham level crossings.

The train was travelling south at a speed of around 100mph when it struck Mr Hollywood at around 10.30pm on September 8 last year.

Police were initially unable to identify the dad-of-two until his neighbours raised the alarm that he hadn’t been seen for a few days.

The inquest at Northumberland County Council Chambers, in Alnwick, heard Mr Hollywood, a retired railway plate layer, had lived alone for the majority of his life.

PC Amanda Timlin, of the British Transport Police, said: “His wife had died at a very young age, leaving him to look after two young sons.

“After a while, Mr Hollywood couldn’t cope and his sons went to live with their grandparents.”

The court heard that although Mr Hollywood had a problem with alcohol at stages during his life and hadn’t seen his sons for many years, there was no evidence he was suffering from any mental health problems.