Former superintendent Bernard Murray - accused of the manslaughter of two of the victims - told a jury at Leeds Crown Court that all radio transmissions were disrupted as supporters were being crushed into the turnstiles outside the stadium.

If we had not had a radio fault or problems I do not know what my course of action would have been

Bernard Murray

Mr Murray, 58, speaking on the 23rd day of the trial, said: "It was smack in the middle of what was becoming an unprecedented crisis outside.

"It disrupted my train of thought. If we had not had a radio fault or problems I do not know what my course of action would have been.

"It might have been I would have been thinking about delaying a kick-off."

Haunted

Alun Jones QC, prosecuting, suggested to Murray that because communications were re-established quickly the fault had nothing to do with the disaster.

"I disagree," said Mr Murray, of Pontefract, West Yorkshire.

Bernard Murray: "Unprecedented crisis"

Mr Murray and former chief superintendent David Duckenfield, 55, of Bournemouth, have pleaded not guilty to the manslaughter of two of the victims.

They have both since retired from South Yorkshire Police.

The prosecution claims the tragedy at the stadium in Sheffield occurred after exit Gate C was opened to relieve pressure on the turnstiles, causing hundreds of people to flood into the pens.

Ninety-six fans died at the FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest in April 1989.

On Monday Mr Murray told the court that he was haunted by the thought that he could have saved the lives of some of those who died.