RAILWAY police confirmed yesterday that a man who died after being struck by a train near Pewsey Station was psychiatric patient Bruce Wicks, who lived in the village.

Officers took three days to confirm the identity of Mr Wicks who received multiple injuries and is believed to have died instantly on Friday when he was struck by an InterCity express at New Mill, about a mile east of Pewsey.

Mr Wicks, 38, formerly lived with his parents Jim and Celia in Wootton Rivers, but had been living for some time in a flat in River Street, in Pewsey.

Officers from British Transport Police said the driver of the Penzance-Paddington express told them Mr Wicks stepped in front of the train minutes after it had picked up commuters from Pewsey station at 7.24am. The driver was said to be very shocked.

Trains were diverted via Chippenham and Trowbridge for more than three hours while transport police carried out a trackside investigation.

Mr Wicks' senior said on the day of the tragedy his son's car had broken down at New Mill, and it was possible that he had been taking a short cut along the railway line to get help.

Bruce Wicks was an outpatient at the Farmer Memorial Clinic at Savernake Hospital. An inquest was opened and adjourned on Tuesday.