A MAN died in a freak accident in Brotton High Street last night.

A Northumbria Water lorry and a Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council minibus collided, trapping one of the contractors between the two vehicles.

The fire brigade was called to free the victim, with specialist heavy lifting gear responding from Stockton. However, the injured man died at the scene.

Another Northumbria Water employee and the driver of the minibus needed treatment for shock at Middlesbrough General Hospital.

Fire officer Andrew Witham, of the Cleveland service, said: "It was a pretty devastating scene." The name of the dead man has not yet been released by police. The Health and Safety Executive has been informed