A FARM hand who enjoyed working on cars was crushed by one after he failed to ensure it was properly supported as he worked under it, an inquest was told yesterday.

A jury of eight sitting at the Town Hall in Richmond, North Yorkshire, heard how 38-year-old Nigel Lazenby was last seen pushing a Vauxhall Senator into a barn in February last year.

He intended to remove the car's gearbox for use in a similar vehicle owned by his employer, John Pinkney, and had taken a manual with him which illustrated the correct procedures.

However, a police video reconstructing the accident, and evidence given by service manager Ivan Best, of Vauxhall dealer Sherwood's, both indicated Mr Lazenby had chosen the wrong jacking points to support the car while he worked underneath.

The hearing was also told a wet handprint on the subframe and a tool nearby suggested the car had dropped on top of Mr Lazenby as he pulled himself from beneath it.

A subsequent post-mortem examination revealed Mr Lazenby, of Barley Garth, Moulton, Richmond, died of head injuries.

The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.