A LOCAL man was killed in a freak accident on Tuesday afternoon when a trench he was digging collapsed.

The 45-year-old man, who has not yet been officially named, was digging a deep trench on land between Forches Cross and Cardings Ball near Clatworthy.

The trench is believed to have collapsed while he was working on it, trapping him, shortly before 5pm.

Emergency services, including fire crews from Wiveliscombe and Williton, rushed to the scene but the man was declared dead by paramedics.

A police spokesman said rescuers faced particularly difficult conditions and the recovery effort had to be called off until the following morning.

"Because of concern about weather conditions and stability of the site, the body was left overnight, pending the arrival of a specialist construction team to assist the fire service," the police spokesman said.

The man's body was eventually recovered on Wednesday evening.

A post mortem was due to be carried out yesterday (Thursday) morning as the Free Press went to print and an inquest will be opened in due course.