A railway company employee from Boreham Wood was killed in a tragic accident while he was carrying out work on a line at Cricklewood 67 years ago.

Thomas Charles Hobbs, aged 59, of Brownlow Road, was working as a platelayer when he was knocked down by a light engine on March 7, 1935.

An inquest heard that the father-of-five was hit by the engine when he was crossing the line to deliver a letter to his district inspector.

The driver of the engine told the jury that he was passing the signal box slowly, watching the signals, when he felt a bump.

The signal was down for him to proceed, but, because he was travelling backwards and his view of the track was obscured, he did not see the deceased.

He said: "My mate looked back. He said there was a man's body on the line and I stopped at once."

Another train had been passing on the fast line, making so much noise that it would have been difficult for Mr Hobbs to hear the light engine.

The jury at the inquest, held at Cricklewood, returned a verdict of accidental death.