The death of a man killed after falling under a lorry was an accident, a coroner has ruled.

Rodney Williams, a 69-year-old from Sudbury, was walking in the town on February 25 when the incident happened.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

Today a coroner at the Active Business Centre in Bury St Edmunds heard how the former Sudbury Cricket Club vice-president often walked with a stick but on that day had elected not to use it.

A series of statements read at Mr Williams’ inquest described how the accident had happened.

A truck being driven by Peter Taylor had been making its way along Newton Road in Sudbury away from the town centre.

Mr Taylor said he had seen Mr Williams standing on his near side just beyond the junction with Chelsea Road.

However after passing Mr Williams the driver looked in a rear view mirror and saw him under the vehicle.

Mr Taylor tried to manoeuvre his truck so as not to trap Mr Williams under the rear wheels.

A witness said the vehicle had been travelling at around the 30mph speed limit and an examination of its recording equipment afterwards found this to be true.

It was also established the truck had no defects which would have contributed to the accident and the weather conditions would also not have been a factor.

The inquest heard how a post-mortem of Mr Willaims’ body showed high levels of both alcohol and paracetamol in his blood.

Coupled with the fact he was walking up Newton Road, which is on an incline, preexisting medical conditions and the absence of his stick, it was said Mr Williams’ ability to walk may have been affected.

Her Majesty’s assistant coroner Dr Dan Sharpstone recorded a verdict of accidental death.