A WORKER was killed yesterday following an accident involving road-surfacing machinery.

The victim, who has not been named, suffered fatal injuries as he carried out road maintenance work.

Police were called to the scene, near the Tesco superstore, in West Dyke Road, Redcar, east Cleveland, at about 2pm.

The worker, believed to be an employee with Todds Highway Maintenance, of Darlington, was confirmed dead at the scene.

Diversions were put in place as police and the Highways Agency carried out an investigation into the death.

Inspector Eric Robinson, of the road policing unit, said last night: "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."

Resurfacing work began on Monday and was due to be completed tomorrow.

A spokesman for Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council said: "We are extremely distressed to hear about this awful accident."

He said that the work was being conducted by the council's Highways partner, McAlpine, who are the main contractors, and that Todds Highway Maintenance were a sub-contracted company.

Passer-by Pauline Sharp, 33, from Redcar, said: "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."

There was no one available for comment from the company last night.