The family of a man who drowned in a ditch are calling for the area to be made safer.

Chelsea supporter Glenn Ford, 54, died days before the birth of his latest grandson after falling into the ditch in Hammonds Drive, Eastbourne, while walking home from a party.

Mr Ford was found face up in 3ft of water by a woman walking her dog on March 12 at about 8am.

At his inquest yesterday in Eastbourne, the coroner heard how Mr Ford had stopped to go to the toilet after leaving the party at around 2am, slipped down the steep bank into the ditch and later died.

The toxicology report showed his blood alcohol level was three times the drink-driving limit and there was evidence in his blood he had taken ecstasy.

Mr Ford, of Vine Square, Eastbourne, was the third person to die in the ditch in 15 years.

His wife of four years, Lisa Ford, did not attend the inquest but said in a statement after the hearing: "There was mention there should be a proper path and a barrier or railings and lights, as it is very dark around that area at night.

"I just hope the council or whoever is responsible will now do something so that no harm can come to anybody else.

"When Glenn died, myself and both our families wondered how on earth we were going to cope with such a huge loss. He is still very much loved and greatly missed by us all."

In a statement read by coroner Alan Craze during the hearing, Mrs Ford said: "He wouldn't take his own life. He just wouldn't do that to me, his children and his friends.

"He was looking forward to being a grandfather again. His youngest daughter was getting married in May and he wouldn't have missed that for the world.

"Glenn had a wicked sense of humour, was fun to be with and honest. He was a hard worker and much respected." The father of four, who had two grandsons, worked as a senior agent in a local civil engineering company.

He had been to the party on March 11 and arrived alone between 10pm and 11pm with a bottle of vodka and a bottle of cola.

At about 2am the host, Fiona Cahill, of Bridgemere Road, Eastbourne, phoned a taxi to take him home but he had gone by the time the taxi arrived.

Lesley Harwood, a guest at the party, told the inquest she remembered Mr Ford falling over a chair.

Police were alerted to the discovery of a body near Hammond Drive police station and an underwater search team recovered the body at 1pm.

The post-mortem showed Mr Ford had drowned. A verdict of accidental death was recorded.