A HILLSBOROUGH survivor climbed out of an overcrowded central terrace pen to an adjoining one which was "quite empty", the inquest into the tragedy has heard.

Bromsgrove resident Andrew Brookes was one of 96 fans who died at the stadium that staged Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest on April 15.

The original verdicts of accidental death were quashed in 2012 following a campaign by the Hillsborough families, including Andrew's sister Louise who has been attending the new Warrington inquests.

Liverpool fan, Ian Devine, told the inquest pen two in the Leppings Lane end at the 1989 match was "not even remotely full" compared to pen three which he first entered about five minutes before kick-off.

He said the outside of the turnstiles was congested when he arrived at about 2.30pm and that police on horseback were pushing the crowd back.

When he eventually got in through the turnstiles he walked up the facing central tunnel and was not aware of any other access to the terracing, he said.

Mr Devine said there were "a couple of stewards" in the inner concourse but he saw no police officers there or near to and in the tunnel.

The hearing has heard fans died following crushing in the central pens three and four of the Leppings Lane terrace at Sheffield Wednesday's ground.

Jonathan Hough QC, counsel for the inquest, asked: "As you entered the pens from the tunnel how crowded were they?"

The witness said: "The pen we at first walked in was very crowded."

When he reached the radial fencing, separating pens two and three, he said the congestion became worse.

Mr Hough asked: "Did you become worried?"

He replied: "Yes. A lot of of people were. Especially when you knew the pen next to you was quite empty."

He said he climbed over into pen 2 after seeing others doing so and later saw fans being pulled up into the stand above.

Mr Devine said he did not see any police officers on the terrace at the time, only six to eight standing facing the crowd on the perimeter of the pitch.

He said supporters became more "agitated" as the game was about to kick-off and he heard cries and screams.

The witness said he eventually went on to the pitch where he found a friend who he had been separated from and was being treated for injuries.

He was being looked after by a fellow supporters and then was taken to the ground's gym.

Mr Devine said: "When we got to the gym we were told 'injuries to one side, dead to the other'."

He disagreed with John Beggs QC, representing three retired chief superintendents, that he had the option of walking back down the tunnel once he saw pen 3 was over-full.

Rajiv Menon QC, representing bereaved families of the victims, later asked: "I don't know if it's being suggested that you and other fans who arrived at this time and who chose to enter these over-full pens somehow contributed, deliberately contributed, to the overcrowding and crushing - and by extension to the loss of life that followed - but if that is being suggested what would your response be?"

Mr Devine said: "Well I know that's not true because all we done is went through the turnstile and in the tunnel and went in to watch a football match."

He went on to tell Mr Menon that pen two was "not even remotely full" before he climbed over.