AN inquest into the death of an elderly Hoylake woman who was hit by a train on an unmanned level crossing has been opened and adjourned.

Jean Wilson, 80, was walking with her dog Poppy back across the tracks at Sandringham Avenue near Manor Road station in Hoylake after visiting her allotment on the afternoon of Tuesday, July 31 when she was struck by a train travelling from West Kirby to Birkenhead North.

Coroner's officer Ronald Hankie told an inquest at Wallasey town hall on Thursday that British Transport Police and paramedics attended the scene but Mrs Wilson, a widow who lived alone at her home in nearby Hazel Road, was pronounced dead at the scene. Poppy was also killed.

The train was not carrying passengers at the time. Services were suspended on the line and rail replacement bus services were put in place between West Kirby and Birkenhead North.

The rail service resumed at 2.55pm.

A post mortem at Arrowe Park Hospital revealed that Mrs Wilson, who was originally from Northern Ireland, died from multiple injuries. The inquest will re-open on November 1, once an investigation into the incident is completed.