A MAN who fell between the train and the platform at Earlestown station plans to sue the operators he claims were negligent.

Anthony Hand, aged 21, of Crow Lane West, slipped on black ice at the station while disembarking from a return trip to Manchester Piccadilly.

Luckily, a guard grabbed Mr Hand by the arm and managed to stop him falling on to the tracks.

He suffered no broken bones, but the accident has left him using a walking stick after sustaining severe bruising to his leg and back.

He claims station operator First North Western was negligent in failing to alert passengers to the dangerous conditions.

Said Mr Hand: "There were no warnings that there was black ice on the platform. The guard didn't say anything. There were no signs indicating icy conditions, and no announcements before you got off the train.

"I wouldn't want this to happen to other people, particularly the elderly or young children. An elderly woman got off after me and I daren't think what would have happened if it had been she who slipped.

"First North Western has a responsibility to protect the public from things like this, and I believe it has not kept to that obligation," he said.

Keith Lumley of First North Western said: "We have a duty of care to our passengers to ensure to the best of our ability that they are safe while they are on the platform. It is difficult to erect signs always, as icy conditions can arise at any time. But we do use things like salt grit to reduce the risk of accidents."

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