A construction worker fell two storeys at a business development site yesterday, landing on a colleague.

Both men were injured in the accident, at 10.50am, at the site of the flagship Maingate complex, in Team Valley, Gateshead.

The man who fell had been working five floors above ground level, fitting windows to the hotel and office block, when he plunged through the scaffolding, crashing on to a co-worker below.

Firefighters found both casualties on the third storey of the building.

One who was badly injured was placed on a spinal board and lowered to the ground by the aerial ladder platform.

He was taken to hospital by paramedics, suffering from suspected head and spinal injuries.

The second man was taken to hospital with ankle and shoulder injuries.

The 152,000sq ft Maingate, being built by UK Land Estates, will include an eight-storey, 116-bed Tulip Inn hotel and a seven-storey office block, as well as retail and leisure facilities.

Work is due to be completed by the end of this summer.

No one from UK Land Estates was available for comment yesterday.