A CONTRACTOR was crushed to death when machinery weighing between one and one and a half ton fell on to him as it was being moved at a Burnley factory site.

An inquest was opened into the death of Robert McPhearson, 47, who died when he was working at the Cloverbrook factory in Gannow Lane, Burnley, on Saturday.

The hearing was adjourned pending the completion of inquiries by the police and the Health and Safety Executive.

The accident happened at Peel Mill, Gannow Lane where fabric knitted at Riverside Knitting in Lune Street, Padiham, is then dyed and finished.

Jean McPhearson of Hyde, Cheshire, described her husband as a self employed engineer and a fit and active man with no medical conditions.

He was employed on sub contact work by a Nottingham company.

East Lancashire Coroner, David Smith, said cause of death was multiple injuries.

Coroner's officer Michael Swailes said initial inquiries indicated that the eight feet high "dragging" machine weighing between one and one and a half tons was being moved using skates and jacks.

As it was being lowered a jack slipped or started to move and the machine tipped over towards him.