A LORRY driver was crushed to death yesterday when his truck trapped him against the gates of a North-East sewage works.

Allan Leaver, 52, was killed when he went to open the gates to the Northumbrian Water Sedgeletch Road treatment works in Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside.

Firefighters and paramedics battled to save the driver, of Rushmore, Spennymoor, County Durham, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

The Health and Safety Executive and Northumbrian Water bosses immediately launched an inquiry into the tragedy, which happened just before 7am.

It is thought the contract driver climbed out of the tanker to open the gates and the lorry rolled forward, pinning him against the gates. Police say he may have been trapped for 20 minutes.

Firefighters moved the truck back from the gate and paramedics moved in to try to revive him.

A spokesman for Northumbrian Water said: "The driver is believed to have got out of his cab to open the gates when the vehicle moved forward and crushed him.

"Officials from Northumbrian Water are liasing closely with Northumbria Police who are investigating the incident.

"The Vehicle Inspectorate and the Health and Safety Inspectorate have also been called in to help with investigations.

"Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased."

The tanker truck had been driven to the Sedgeletch Road site to collect sludge to take to the treatment works at Howdon on Tyneside.