A HIGHWAYS workman was killed in an accident involving road surfacing machinery on a busy road.

Plant operator Kevin Bradshaw, 31, suffered severe head injuries when he was struck by the metal bucket of a Bobcat appliance.

Cleveland Police were called to the scene close to Tesco Superstore, on West Dyke Road, Redcar, at about 2pm on Wednesday. The road was closed.

Mr Bradshaw, believed to be an employee with Darlington-based Todds Highway Main- tenance Ltd, died at the scene.

Diversions were set up as police officers worked with the Health and Safety Executive on the investigation.

Insp Eric Robinson, of the road policing unit, said: "It is still very early in our investigations to say exactly what happened, but it looks like a tragic accident.

"One of the workmen was operating road surfacing machinery when, for reasons unknown at this time, he suffered fatal injuries.

"We are in the process of conducting a full investigation into the circumstances of this tragic death and the road has been closed to help us with that."

The re-surfacing work began on Monday and was due to be completed today.

A spokesman for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, which contracted the work, said: "We are extremely distressed to hear about this awful accident." He said the work was being carried out by the council's highways partner McAlpine, who were the main contractors. Todds Highway Maintenance were a sub-contracted company.

Dozens of police officers were called to the accident, opposite the entrance to Redcar Racecourse, to help to divert traffic.

Redcar resident Pauline Sharp, 33, who came across the accident as she walked her children home from school, said: "This is such a shock.

"Things like this are sad at any time of the year, but being so close to Christmas you have to think of his poor family.

"It looked like a pretty serious accident because there were dozens of police and blue flashing lights."

Anyone who witnessed the accident is asked to contact police on (01642) 301552.