A lifelong Albion fan and campaigner died after being hit by a train yesterday morning.

Roy Chuter, 51, was found on the tracks shortly after 6am at East Worthing Station.

The accident stopped trains running between Worthing and Brighton for nearly three hours as paramedics battled to save his life.

Tributes poured in last night, with friends describing him as “a lovely bloke”.

Albion They told how he studied English at the University of Manchester where he gained a First.

He is well known among Albion fans and readers of The Argus for his work editing the matchday programme during the Withdean years. He was also known for his campaign work against Albion bosses during the troubled 1990s.

Lifelong friend, John Baine, paid tribute to his pal last night.

He said: “We’re all in shock. He was such a lovely bloke.

“He was working on a book about the Albion and I kept telling him to get a move on. He’ll never finish it now.”

Mr Chuter is also well-known in the Shoreham area where he was once the landlord of the Duke of Wellington pub.

A BTP spokesman said: “Officers from BTP and Sussex Police attended the incident, which was reported at 6am and is currently being treated as non-suspicious.

“Medics from the South East Coast Ambulance Service also attended but the man was pronounced dead at the scene.”

A file is currently being prepared for the coroner.

First Great Western and Southern trains travelling along lines to and from Brighton, Hove, Aldrington, Fishersgate, Lancing, Worthing, Barnham, Chichester and Littlehampton were also affected.

See The Argus tomorrow for further tributes