AN offshore worker who died while working on a North Sea platform is from the North-East, it was confirmed tonight (Friday, September 5).

Sean Anderson, 43, was part of a team carrying out routine maintenance on BP's Unity platform when the incident happened shortly after 4am on Thursday.

The worker, who was employed by the industrial services firm Cape, reportedly fell from the installation, which lies 97 miles off the coast of Aberdeen.

Relatives of Mr Anderson, who is from the Tyne and Wear area, have been told and his colleagues are said to be shocked and saddened by what has happened.

Police are working with the Health and Safety Executive under the direction of the Crown Office to determine the full circumstances of the death.

A BP spokeswoman said on Thursday: ''It is with deep regret that Cape confirms the death of an employee following an incident this morning.

''The deceased was part of a Cape team carrying out routine maintenance onboard BP's Unity platform. Our thoughts go out to his family, to whom we will be offering every support.

''The deceased's co-workers are obviously shocked and saddened."

The platform is within the Forties pipeline system.

The death comes around six months after oil worker George Bartlett, 62, from Shotts, North Lanarkshire, fell into the North Sea and died during maintenance work on the Taqa-operated Harding platform, about 198 miles north east of Aberdeen.