A man who died after falling in front of a train was “a recluse”, according to his brother.

Colin Buss, 62, of Pinewood Drive, Brandon, died on December 7 at Brandon Railway Station after apparently throwing himself in front of a train.

His brother, David, who lives in Barcelona, said Mr Buss was a man who “kept himself to himself” but had grown increasingly detached in the last years of his life.

“He was a very nice man who never did any harm to anybody and I think he must have been very lonely.

“His death was a shock but not at all surprising, unfortunately,” he said.

Mr Buss was born and grew up in Maidstone, Kent. He worked at various places in London, including the Royal Albert Hall, after studying at art school.

In later years he travelled extensively, visiting Australia, Canada, the Far East and much of Europe, according to his brother.

Mr Buss moved to Brandon to live with his mother, Pearla, in Pinewood Drive.

When she died in 2001, he took on her bungalow. He would walk “for hours” in the forests near his home, his brother said, and was not in work.

Neighbours said Mr Buss was a very quiet and private person who was difficult to communicate with.

One neighbour, who did not want to be named, said: “He would try and avoid contact with people and if he saw you out the front of the house, he would walk in the opposite direction to make sure he didn’t have to talk to you.”

Mr Buss died at around 1.50pm after being hit by the 12.57 Norwich to Liverpool service. British Transport Police, Suffolk and Norfolk Police, Brandon and Thetford Fire Service and the Ambulance Service all attended the incident, but Mr Buss was pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokesman for British Transport Police said the incident was not being treated as suspicious.

An inquest into Mr Buss’ death opened on Friday in Bury St Edmunds.