Pair killed as tractor overturns

Next of kin have been informed

A father and his 17-year-old son died on Wednesday when their tractor overturned into a canal in Wiltshire.

The alarm was raised by a canoeist who discovered the vehicle in the Kennet and Avon canal at New Mill, near Pewsey, at 3pm, police said.

The unnamed local pair were using the tractor to cut hedges when part of the bank is believed to have given way.

Fire officers found the bodies of the men inside the tractor's cab. The New Mill Road was closed early on Thursday.

Police said this type of incident was rare, and they were trying to piece together the men's last movements.

Next of kin and the coroner have been informed.

The National Farmers' Union South West spokesman Ian Johnson said: "Tractors can be very dangerous in certain circumstances and, of course, farmers have to deal with a lot of difficult terrain.

"There will always be unfortunate accidents. The Health and Safety Executive do issue a significant amount of advice and farmers are well aware of the dangers."