STAFF at a York travel and conference company are in shock following the unexpected death of their managing director.

Daryl Adrian Pinnington, 52, died when he was hit by a train on the East Coast Main Line near Earfit Lane in Copmanthorpe on May 9.

Mr Pinnington became director of NYS Corporate Ltd in 1991 and oversaw its growth into a bespoke travel company providing blue chip companies and large public sector organisations with conference facilities, event management and travel arrangements.

A spokesman for the company said: “He was a lovely, lovely man who was very well respected. He was really genuine. He will be sorely missed. He had a good business, a successful business.”

Mr Pinnington was also a former chairman of Heslington Parish Council.

Opening the inquest into Mr Pinnington’s death at New Earswick Folk Hall, York coroner Donald Coverdale said the driver of a Cross Country service which was heading south past Copmanthorpe at 12.45pm on May 9, saw a person stepping out from behind a bush into its path.

The train was travelling at 100mph. Mr Pinnington, of Heslington, York, was declared dead at the scene. A Volkswagen car was found nearby.

Mr Coverdale told the inquest Mr Pinnington had “some history of anxiety and depression, but he had been able to return to work recently”.

He formally adjourned the inquest, to a date to be decided.

NYS Corporate Ltd, which is based in Innovation Way, Heslington, was set up in 1977.

It provides conference and events in the UK and abroad and can arrange corporate hospitality.