A BEER delivery man was crushed to death as he guided a heavy goods lorry up a ramp.

Twenty-year-old Andrew Hough, of Oakmere Street in Runcorn, was killed when the truck crushed him against a metal gate, as he directed it backwards down an alley and towards the cellar of the Trawl Boat Inn in St Annes, Lancashire.

Ambulance crews arrived at the scene to take Mr Hough to the Blackpool Victoria Hospital at about 8.50am on Monday, where he was found to have massive internal injuries. He died during the night.

His family have been informed of his death but were too upset to comment.

And Mr Hough's colleague, the driver of the truck, is still in a state of shock and awaits being questioned by police.

Now, Lancashire police are working with Health and Safety officers at Fylde council to investigate the cause of the accident.

Mr Hough worked for Matthew Clark wholesalers on the Astmoor Industrial Estate in Runcorn.

He was delivering barrels of beer to the JD Wetherspoon's owned pub, when the lorry mounted the pavement and a ramp, leaving Mr Hough trapped and unable to get out of the way.

In a statement, a spokeswoman for Matthew Clark, said: 'We extend our deepest sympathies to the family and we're waiting for an investigation which we will co-operate with fully.'

And the manager of the Trawl Boat Inn, who does not wish to be named, added: 'All the staff are very shocked to be told what's happened.

'All our thoughts go out to the family of the young man who died.'

A post-mortem examination has been carried out and an inquest opened and adjourned.