A Coroner has called for a review of drinking rules at working men's clubs after a former pub landlord suffered a severe head injury inside a police cell.

Coroner Roger Whittaker made his comments after hearing how Anthony Wildman collapsed at the Whetley Lane Working Men's Club in Bradford after drinking a "huge amount of alcohol''.

Mr Wildman, 56, had abused alcohol for 25 to 30 years. On the day before his death in February last year, he was found lying beside Bingley Road, Bradford, after he had been drinking at the club.

Mr Wildman was arrested on suspicion of being drunk and incapable and taken to Lawcroft House police station.

But while he was there, Mr Wildman fell and hit the back of his head inside a cell.

Returning a verdict of accidental death, the jury concluded that Mr Wildman had died from a severe injury to the back of the head "after falling while heavily intoxicated" at the police station.

Mr Whittaker expressed concern about how "anybody should be able to accumulate a level of alcohol at licensed premises which clearly Mr Wildman did".

He said it was clear that Mr Wildman had "consumed a huge amount of alcohol and he was clearly served at the Whetley Lane Working Men's Club."

"Had this been a normal licensed premises - a public house - there would have been a proscription on the landlord from serving him while drunk," he said. "No such proscription is incumbent upon the steward of a working men's club such as the Whetley Lane Working Men's Club.''

Mr Whittaker added he would be making these matters known to the "appropriate authorities".

The inquest heard Mr Wildman had been placed in a cell and regular checks were made on his condition. During one of these officers found him on the floor snoring.

Officers tried to rouse him and called his name but he did not reply. When they moved his head, they found a large pool of blood.

He was taken to Bradford Royal Infirmary before being transferred to Leeds Infirmary where he underwent surgery to remove a blood clot, but he later died.

Tests showed that Mr Wildman, of Highgate, Heaton, had consumed enough alcohol to kill most people.

Mr Whittaker said he believed it had been a full inquiry and was impressed with the way in which Mr Wildman was looked after at Lawcroft House, adding that two custody sergeants had nothing "to reproach themselves with".

Following the inquest, a West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "We extend our sympathies to Mr Wildman's family. Any death in custody is to be regretted.

"As with any incident of this nature, the matter was fully investigated."