A family had to wait more than two days for information after their son was hit by a train, an inquest heard.

Benjamin Ingeldew, a second year student at the Royal Veterinary College in Potters Bar, was struck by a train on May 5, 2013, a bank holiday Saturday.

His family, who live in Shepperton, Surrey, were told he had passed away on the same day - but had no further contact with any police officials until staff returned to work on Tuesday.

Hatfield Coroners Court heard how they felt they had been "kept in the air and in the dark" over the bank holiday weekend.

When Mr Ingeldew, Benjamin’s father, rang the British Transport Police, he was told that his son had "been a trespasser on the track".

David Shiperlee, a detective for the British Transport Police, told the family: "I can only apologise for this."

When asked, Sergeant Adrian Naylor, a serving police officer, said: "It's not appropriate and not acceptable that someone has to wait 56 hours for contact after a death".

Coroner Edward Thomas also heard how it took investigators seven minutes to determine the death was non-suspicious.

Inspector Nia Mellor, who works with the BTP, said she came to the conclusion as there were no noticeble drag marks leading up to the track, and Mr Ingledew was still wearing his flip flops.

She said: “I don’t believe that I made that decision too quickly.”

This morning, the court heard how Mr Ingledew, 22, had been out drinking with friends in the student union bar to celebrate the end of his exams.

He walked home in front of his friends, Daisy Johnson and Chris Geotsche and seemed “happy and exuberant” in the hours leading up to his death.

Mr Geotsche said: “I assumed he had just wandered down the tracks.

“I didn't think he would have done it to himself. Even when he had depressive phases he wouldn't do that.”

The inquest continues.