A grieving widow has spoke of her anger after her “family man” husband died when he became trapped in machinery at work.

Dave Dow, 63, of Cedar Grove, Burnham, had popped his head into the back of the trailer to speak to a colleague when the hydraulic tailgate closed onto his neck.

Paramedics attempted to resuscitate Mr Dow but he died at the scene at Dengie Crops, in Hall Road, Asheldham, in May last year.

A post-mortem examination found he died from a traumatic neck injury including the transection of the cervical spinal cord.

His wife Eileen, 59, described his death as a “trauma” that had left the family in shock.

She said: “We as a family aren’t going to forget this but we have had to carry on.

“The main thing for us is to have a hearing with the Health and Safety Executive. The whole thing has left us angry.”