Shropshire’s coroner has expressed concerns about bonus schemes which encourage bar staff to sell as much drink as possible after a man fell into the River Severn and died following a drunken night out.

The body of Joshua Wreford was found in the water by English Bridge two days after he was last seen following the night out on August 11.

An inquest at Shrewsbury Magistrates Court yesterday heard from staff at the Source Vodka Bar in the town, who claimed they received no training in how to deal with customers under the influence of alcohol and admitted there was a scheme which offered cash rewards for hitting till targets.

Mr Wreford, 24, of Amber Hill, Radbrook, Shrewsbury, had been drinking in the bar with his friend Nicholas Rowe, who told the hearing they both had about eight pints of lager and eight Sambuca chasers there. He said they had already drunk seven pints at other venues.

Mr Rowe said Mr Wreford left the bar at about 11pm and he assumed he had gone home.

The inquest heard from Laura Bowers, a member of staff in the Source Vodka bar at the time.

She said: “I have never been trained in how to deal with customers under the influence of alcohol.”

And Keely Marie Pawson, another member of staff, said: “There was a bonus system with three targets of £800, £1,000 and £1,500 and if you made the target you received a reward in your pay packet.”

Coroner for Mid and North Shropshire, Mr John Ellery, recorded a verdict of accidental death.

He said: “This is the third recent inquest I’ve done when a young man has accidentally drowned in the river due to alcohol.

“I’m concerned about issues with bar staff having an incentive to sell as much alcohol as possible and an apparent lack of training.”

He said he would be writing to West Mercia Police, Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council to raise his concerns.

The coroner had asked Sergeant Mark Reilly if police were aware of the scheme. He replied: “This is the first time I’d heard of it.”

Mr Wreford had been spoken to by Sergeant Reilly 40 minutes after leaving the bar when he appeared “drunk but not disorderly”.

By Emma Kasprzak