AN investigation is under way at a Widnes haulage company after the death of a worker.

The man, 45-year-old Steve Lindforth, of Boston Avenue, Run-corn, is understood to have died after being involved in an accident with heavy machinery.

Precise details of the circumstances of the incident, which happened at Exel Logistics on Matheson Road, West Bank, have not been released.

Mersey Regional Ambulance Service said a man suffered 'severe trauma-related injuries' after being hit by machinery, possibly a vehicle. He later died at Whiston Hospital.

The accident happened before 7am on Monday, February 23, and detectives who were called to the scene are believed to have conducted interviews and taken state-ments from employees in order to prepare a file for the coroner.

An ambulance service spokesman said: 'We got the call at 7.01am to attend the incident on Matheson Road.

'A 45-year-old male had been hit by machinery. The police were informed.

'CPR was given at the scene, possibly by a first aider.

'The man had received trauma-related injuries and possibly a cardiac arrest which may have been related to the injuries he sustained. It looks like the 45-year-old had been struck by a truck.

'The injuries were serious and we pre-warned Whiston Hospital, but he was still alive upon arrival.'

Halton Borough Council has confirmed that its environmental health department is now leading the inquiry and a council officer was at the scene last Monday, along with the police.

A council spokeswoman said: 'Environmental health is currently investigating events surrounding the incident at the Exel warehouse at West Bank.

'A full investigation is underway and it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.

'We offer our condolences to the family following this tragic incident.'

A spokeswoman for Exel said: 'Exel can confirm that one of its employees sadly died due to an incident on site on February 2004.

'Exel wishes to express its deep-est sympathies to friends and family of the deceased.

'Exel is currently working closely with health and safety and the police to conduct a full investigation.'

An inquest into the death has now been opened and adjourned by the Cheshire coroner Nicholas Rheinberg.