A man has died after he was hit by a train at a level crossing in Hoylake.

Former factory worker Clive Hanlon, 52, died on Monday at a pedestrian crossing in Wirral.

It's the second time in six months that someone has lost their life on the stretch of track in Hoylake.

Mr Hanlon was hit by the West Kirby service at 2.42pm on Monday.

He was at the unmanned, user-operated crossing at Melrose Avenue - just yards from a similar crossing at Sandringham Avenue where pensioner Jean Wilson died alongside her dog, Poppy, in July.

An inquest into Mrs Wilson's death is due to begin this month.

The crossings are gated and have telephones for people to use to check the lines are safe to cross.

But it's understood that despite the crossings being a regular cut-through to sports fields and allotments, the phones themselves are rarely used.

A Network Rail spokesman said: "The incident occurred at 2.42pm on Monday between Hoylake and Manor Road stations at a user-operated crossing, where an elderly gentleman was hit by the West Kirby service.

"It is currently being investigated by British Transport Police and is being treated as non-suspicious.

"The next step is a coroner's inquest to establish the exact nature of the death."

The inquest will open on Friday.

Hoylake and Meols Cllr Gerry Ellis has been campaigning to have safety improved for 11 years years after a local youngster was killed at the Melrose Avenue crossing.

He told the Globe: "Following the tragedy, we got British Rail and Railtrack to greatly improve the gates at the two crossings.

"We have seen children taking chances by hopping across the railway line and motorists breaking the law and taking serious risks by failing to ring for clearance."

At the time of Mrs Wilson's death, a Network Rail spokesman said: "Level crossings are safe if used properly, but misuse them and the chance of surviving being hit by a train is virtually zero. Too many people die at level crossings every year.

"It is a tragic waste of life."