PUB chain JD Wetherspoon will not face criminal proceedings after the death of a Crossflatts pensioner, a coroner’s court has heard.

Keith Holmes, 73, somehow came into contact with an A-board outside the company’s Myrtle Grove pub in Bingley’s Main Street on November 19 last year, hitting his head on the ground.

Mr Holmes, of Canal Road, died from a head injury the next day at Bradford Royal Infirmary. The incident was being investigated by Bradford Council’s environmental health department to see if there was any criminal culpability.

At a second pre-inquest review, lead investigating officer, Jane Bradbury, told Bradford coroner, Martin Fleming, their investigation is now over. A letter has been sent to Wetherspoon from Bradford Council confirming no further action will be taken.

Mr Fleming noted: “Wetherspoon has been extremely co-operative, right from the start.”

At the first pre-inquest review last month, Mr Fleming said he was not happy essential statements had only been coming in “dribs and drabs.”

Speaking on Tuesday, however, he said those difficulties had been overcome. He added: “I’m not in the blame game. I’m in the business of conducting a thorough fact-finding exercise.”

There will be a jury when the limited scope inquest goes ahead to find answers, including how Mr Holmes came by his death.

The inquest will look at the medical cause of death and the direct circumstances leading up to it, including whether the sign hit him or he hit the sign.

Mr Fleming said the inquest will not be investigating any other death at the Bingley location or any other location, nor would it be looking at any post-incident happenings.

Accident statistics from Wetherspoon, design details of the A-board, details of training given to Wetherspoon staff about using A-boards and instructions about using them in adverse weather, have also now been received by Mr Fleming.

The coroner agreed with Marta Tomlinson, for the pub chain, that any CCTV footage of the incident itself should be disclosed, as well as any footage from that morning as Mr Holmes was on his way to the pub.

Mr Fleming also agreed to inquire about Mr Holmes’s motor neurone disease and how the condition had progressed close to the incident happening.

A third pre-inquest review will be held next month.