Offal pit accident worker's death

A man has died after falling into an offal pit at a Staffordshire meat processing plant.

Glynn Thompson, from Weston Coyney, and colleague Ivan Torr were working at John Poynton and Sons in Cheddleton, near Leek, when they fell into the pit.

The men had been overcome by fumes while they were working on Sunday.

Mr Thompson, 45, was pronounced dead on Monday afternoon, police said. Hospital staff said Mr Torr's condition is improving.

Paramedics treated

Firefighters using a crane had taken 90 minutes to rescue the workers before they were airlifted to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire.

Mr Torr, from Kingsley Holt, who is also believed to be in his 40s, was said to be in a stable condition on Monday.

The Health and Safety Executive, which is investigating, said it understands one man may have gone to clear a blockage and got into difficulty and his colleague went to help.

Some paramedics and firefighters were also treated because of the fumes.