A TREASURE hunter died yesterday when an embankment collapsed and buried him as he was digging for old bottles.

Rescue crews spent several hours recovering the victim from the earth embankment, which fell in as he was on his knees digging a tunnel.

The body of 46-year-old Brian Spink was found at the Wimpey Homes construction site, in Murton, County Durham, shortly before 8.45am.

The accident is believed to have happened in the early hours of the morning at the development, which is on the site of a former haulage depot near Dalton Park retail complex.

The body of Mr Spink, who was married and lived locally, was formally identified yesterday afternoon, and next of kin have been informed.

Mr Spink was digging at the bottom of a 4ft embankment when it is believed a chunk of earth fell away and trapped him. The top half of his body was pinned under half a tonne of earth - with his legs sticking out.

Detective Inspector Eric Malkin, who is leading the investigation into the death, said: "We believe the man had been digging for old bottles.

"The site is covered by security and people are not allowed there.

"Entering these sites is a very dangerous thing to do. The dangers may not be apparent, but they are there.

"You think you are just digging a hole, but you are not because there is a huge chunk of earth above it, which can fall and trap you, which tragically appears to have happened here."

Det Insp Malkin said the digging had been carried out in the dark because people knew they were not allowed on the site - and working in darkness increased the hazard.

The site, known as Fairfield Park, in Church Street, is being prepared for housing and is surrounded by security fencing. It is clearly signposted "Danger Deep Excavations".

Fire crews assisted in recovering the body of Mr Spink, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

Durham fire station manager Keith Wanley said: "We had been asked to help with recovery of body to ensure no further injury was caused.

"The embankment was about 4ft high at that point.

"The man appears to have been on his knees digging away with a hand tool when a section of the embankment collapsed on him.

"He was trapped up to the middle of his back, with the bottom half of his back and legs sticking out.

"About ten to 15ft of earth had come away. It would have been about half a tonne of earth.

"There were some bottles, which appeared to have been dug out, lying around."

Officials from the Health and Safety Executive attended the site yesterday, but have handed control of the site back to the developers.

The area is believed to be the site of a Victorian rubbish dump and a rich source of old bottles.

Interest in collecting bottles was said to have been aroused recently following rumours in the area that Victorian bottles were fetching good prices on the Internet auction site e-bay.

But Det Insp Malkin said: "There were rumours about the value of the bottles, but these may well be exaggerated.

"It appears several other people had been digging in the area - though not at the same time. It is certainly not worth taking the risk. Stay away from this area."

On e-bay last night, two Victorian bottles were going for £2, a storage bottle for 50p and a torpedo soda bottle for £4.25.

A more expensive item was a perfume bottle going for about £20.

Det Insp Malkin said: "We do not yet know what the actual cause of death was. That will be established at a post-mortem.

"But it appears to have been a tragic accident."