A police investigation is underway after an 80-year-old farmer was killed by a bull.

The incident took place on Thursday morning, at Carlton, near Richmond, North Yorkshire.

The farmer, William Fenwick Lax, from Carlton Grange, Aldbrough St John, was taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital following the incident.

Mr Lax, a bachelor, later died from his injuries at 12.40pm.

A friend of Mr Lawson, Thompson Robinson, a farmer from near Gainford, in Teesdale, said: "I'm not sure what happened we'd heard there was two bulls fighting in the yard.

"He was a very friendly man and everybody round here knew him.

"I knew him very well and we used to meet up regularly.

"He was a very big countryman and was big in hunting and used to keep foxes for the hounds.

"Only the other day we were joking about him still baling hay at his age."

The North Yorkshire coroner has been informed and an inquest into the incident was opened and adjourned yesterday.

The Health and Safety Executive has also been informed.