The father of a workman killed when a trench collapsed on him has been questioned under caution by police investigating the cause of the tragedy.

It is now up to the Crown Prosecution Service whether Bradford property developer and businessman Charles Lancaster will face prosecution over his 23-year-old son’s tragic death.

Andrew Lancaster had been working for his family’s business and was clearing gravel to get to a faulty sewerage pipe on October 18 this year when the side of the trench he was in collapsed and buried him at a development of luxury homes off Bingley Road in Heaton.

But an inquest in Bradford heard how it was hours before paramedics could get to him because it was not safe enough to send rescuers in.

During the inquest, Coroner Roger Whittaker noted there had appeared to be no protection on the side of the trench walls “and for that reason, the ambulance staff were unable to get to him,” he said.

Emergency services were alerted shortly after 11am, but because of the dangerous conditions of the trench Andrew was not officially pronounced dead until some hours later at 5.34pm.

A provisional cause of death has been given as head injury and traumatic asphyxiation, but a full post-mortem examination report will follow.

Investigations are still ongoing including a joint inquiry by West Yorkshire Police and the Health & Safety Executive.

The inquest heard how a solicitor acting for Mr Lancaster’s father said there was no objection to his son’s body now being released and there was no request for a second autopsy. Police also had no objection.

It was the family’s wish Mr Lancaster’s body be released for cremation at Rawdon, the hearing was told. The funeral is now expected to be shortly after Christmas.

Mr Lancaster senior also runs a property rental company in Clayton Heights, Bradford.

Adjourning the inquest, Mr Whittaker told the family he would now be awaiting the results of investigations by the police and the HSE.

After the hearing a police spokesman said: “A man has been interviewed under caution in relation to this matter and a file has been submitted to the Crown Prosecution Service for their consideration.”