FACTORY workers looked on in horror as a young colleague was crushed to death by falling steel yesterday.

A second worker at the factory in Darlington escaped injury by inches in the horrific accident just before 8am.

The dead man was last night named as James West, 22, from Main Street, in Shildon.

Mr West, who was unmarried but believed to have a long-term girlfriend, had been working at NEF Steel Fabrications on the Cleveland Trading Estate, in Cleveland Street, when the accident happened.

It is believed that a quantity of steel crating fell on Mr West, causing serious injuries and narrowly missed another worker at the plant. Paramedics tried to revive Mr West who was transferred to the nearby Darlington Memorial Hospital, but he was pronounced dead on arrival.

Last night the tight-knit community of Shildon was stunned by his death.

His mother, Julie Jones, is landlady of the Red Lion pub in the town centre. Last night, as news of the tragedy spread through the community, friends and family gathered at the nearby Royal George pub. Mr West's family were said to be too distraught to talk.

But residents last night said the town was struggling to come to terms with the tragedy.

One said: "It just seems so unfair. He was just a young lad. A lot of people knew him, I cannot believe what has happened.

"I can't begin to imagine what his family are going through."

An investigation has been launched by Health and Safety officials who were immediately informed of the accident.

Last night, there was no one at the company available for comment and the small industrial unit was closed to visitors.

The coroner has been informed of the incident and an opening inquest will be held in Darlington on Friday afternoon.

A spokesman for County Durham police said: "At this stage, there is nothing to suggest there are any suspicious circumstances."