A former senior South Yorkshire Police officer has told a jury an "idiot" colleague had destroyed his "unblemished character" with claims that he said the blame for Hillsborough should be placed on drunken, ticketless supporters.

Ex-chief superintendent Terry Wain spoke of his anger about evidence given last month to the inquests into the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans.

Former inspector Clive Davis told the hearing about a briefing Mr Wain allegedly gave to CID officers two days after the disaster.

Mr Davis said: "His words were, and I can almost remember them verbatim, that 'we were going to put the blame for this disaster where it belongs - on the drunken, ticketless Liverpool fans'.''

He said Mr Wain told the meeting at police HQ in Sheffield that officers should drive along the M62 to look for discarded cans of beer and should also speak to pub landlords and neighbours around Sheffield Wednesday's ground about the behaviour of Liverpool fans on the day of the FA Cup semi-final on April 15 1989.

Mr Davis added that the "very high-level briefing" amounted to "like a call to arms, almost".

Giving evidence today in Warrington, Mr Wain denied any of the above and said he did not even become involved in any Hillsborough investigation until April 24.

When counsel of the inquest, Jonathan Hough QC, turned to the subject of Mr Davis's evidence, Mr Wain: "I'd rather you didn't mention him."

Mr Hough said: "Mr Davis has given an account to the jury of you opening that meeting by declaring the intention to place the blame for the disaster on drunken and ticketless Liverpool supporters. Did you say any such thing either at a meeting on April 17 or any other meeting?"

Mr Wain says: "No, I did not."

He said he did not get officers to go out and get evidence to support that case and added he did not know Mr Davis at the time He added: "I feel angry. I do.

"Thirty-two of years unblemished character and an idiot like that comes and destroys it."

The jury heard that Mr Wain was tasked with overseeing South Yorkshire Police's response to the disaster for the public inquiry carried out by Lord Justice Taylor.

It included overseeing the gathering of written accounts by South Yorkshire Police officers.