An investigation is under way to find out how a man got his hand trapped in machinery at a wool processing plant.

The man had to be freed by firefighters after they were called to Haworth Scouring in Birklands Street off Leeds Road at 6.20am yesterday.

Paramedics took the injured worker, who has not been named, to Bradford Royal Infirmary.

The firm's managing director David Gisbourne said managers were looking into the incident to establish what happened. Mr Gisbourne said the Health & Safety Executive would be informed and the business would be co-operating into its investigation.

He said of the worker’s injury: “We don't think the hand is too badly damaged, we don’t think it's broken.”

The plant, which has a workforce about 100 strong, has benefited from multi-million pounds of investment over the past five years.

In 2010 Prince Charles enjoyed a tour of the company.