A TALENTED young cricketer died from head injuries after falling down an iron staircase behind a pub.

Michael Cooper, 18, had been celebrating the start of the Christmas break with work colleagues when the accident happened at the Station Pub, in Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, last December.

It is believed the motor mechanic, from Ennerdale Drive, Crook, may have gone outside to stand on the fire escape to get a good signal on his mobile phone an inquest heard at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Joseph Warburton had met Michael and his friends in the pub and spoke of a happy atmosphere.

He said: "Everyone was drunk. We were happy and friendly and we were having a laugh."

Mr Warburton said that he had gone out on to the fire escape to use his mobile phone when he saw his friend lying at the bottom of the steps.

He went down to help but went to find the pub landlord when he saw that Mr Cooper was not breathing.

The inquest was told that Mr Cooper and his colleagues from a Bishop Auckland garage had been drinking on the afternoon and into the evening.

A report by consultant pathologist Mark Egan said that Mr Cooper had 290 millilitres of alcohol in 100 milli-litres of blood and this was sufficient to cause drunkenness.

South Durham Coroner Colin Penna recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Cooper, known to his friends as Tommy, had been a promising cricketer playing for Crook Cricket Club.

He had ended the cricket season in October, last year, on a high scoring the clubs only century with 103 in his last game.

His family have presented the bat that he scored the century with to the club and it will take pride of place in a display cabinet.

Club fixture secretary Alan Stewart said: "Michael's death was a tragedy that we all felt at the club. He was one of the better young cricketers we have had.

"He scored his first 100 last year and it would have been the first of many. Unfortunately it was the last game he ever played."