A stag party in Blackpool ended in tragedy when an Oxfordshire man was crushed to death by a tram.

The 37-year-old victim, thought to be from the Cheney area of Banbury, was one of a group of about ten celebrating in the Lancashire seaside town yesterday.

He died at the scene after suffering serious head injuries. His wife was travelling to Lancashire today to make a formal identification.

The accident happened at 4.40pm on the promenade outside the Viking Hotel, near Blackpool's famous pleasure beach.

Sgt Mick Swindells, of Lancashire police, said: "He was crossing the promenade when he was hit by a tram. There are no railings that separate the promenade from trams.

"He was still alive when emergency services got there. Unfortunately he died at the scene.

"The rest of the party had been drinking - 90 per cent of people in Blackpool had been drinking. It was the hottest day of this year."

A passing doctor and a member of the public tried to resuscitate the unconscious man but he was pronounced dead by a doctor from the town's Victoria Hospital.

A police investigation is under way and an inquest is expected to be opened soon.

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