A PROFESSIONAL photographer who had been arrested by police was found dead on a railway line 24 hours after being released from custody.

The inquest into the death of Raymond Bate, of Bretforton Road, Badsey, near Evesham, was opened and adjourned by Worcestershire coroner Victor Round yesterday.

At the coroner's court in Stourport-on-Severn, Mr Round said Mr Bate, aged 48, had been arrested for providing a positive breath test on Friday, May 2. Mr Bate was also being investigated for other unrelated matters.

He was released from custody and on Saturday, May 3, he drove to Honeybourne railway station and called police.

"What he suggested was he was going to kill himself," said Mr Round.

"Police then found his body, which had been struck by a train."

A post-mortem revealed he had died from multiple injuries.

Mr Round adjourned the hearing to a date yet to be fixed.