A worker was crushed to death when he fell into a paper compactor at a Bradford waste disposal site.

Firefighters battled in vain to try to free the 38-year-old man from the jaws of the powerful hydraulic machine at the waste transfer depot in Bowling Back Lane, Bradford, yesterday.

A doctor and paramedics were on standby but when fire crews finally managed to prise the machine apart they found that the worker had died from multiple injuries.

The Health and Safety Executive today started an investigation into the tragedy which occurred at 2.45pm.

Station Officer Phillip Whitaker, of Bradford fire station, said the rescue operation had been particularly difficult as the jaws of the machine were locked by the force of the machine's hydraulics.

"We could see him lying among the waste paper as we worked desperately to release him," he said.

"It was a very difficult job for us and we had hoped for a brighter outcome.

"I think he died straight away. He must have suffered massive internal injuries.

"The machine was well guarded I don't know how he came to fall inside."

A manager at the site, which is run by West Yorkshire Waste Management, refused to comment on the accident but said: "It has been a very traumatic day for everyone here."

The man was pronounced dead at the scene and his body taken by ambulance to the mortuary at Bradford Royal Infirmary.

He has not been named until his family in Bradford have been informed.

Today a Bradford Police spokesman said: "Officers attended the scene and investigated the matter, which has now been passed to the coroner's officer to carry out a full inquiry."

A HSE spokesman added: "We have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding this incident."

Councillor Anne Hawkesworth, executive member for the environment at Bradford Council, said: "It is a great tragedy. Obviously we are all very sad to hear about this terrible incident.

"Our deepest condolences go out to his family."

She said the Council would give every assistance to the investigation team.

The 20ft tall machine compacts waste paper and cardboard sheets into 4ft square bales.

The site is used as the main depot for the transfer of waste items such as metal, glass and paper. It is also the home of the growing mountain of old refrigerators, which new legislation is preventing the Council from destroying.