A FACTORY worker was found crushed to death inside an industrial machine yesterday - after his body had lain undiscovered for up to 24 hours.

Health and safety chiefs were last night investigating how Michael Joyce had become trapped inside the equipment. The 51-year-old, from Newcastle, was working alone and may have climbed inside the machine - described as a device to put rubber coatings on steel rings - after it became jammed.

Mr Joyce may have become stuck as early as 5.30am on Saturday as he worked on his own in an enclosed room.

But his body was only discovered at 7.30am on Sunday. It took about three hours for it to be removed.

The machine operator was reported missing to the police by his family when he did not return home from work on Saturday afternoon.

When police and family members searched the car-seal manufacturers, Freudenberg Technical Products, on New York Industrial Park, Wallsend, they found his bike where he had left it after cycling to work.

But it was not until 90 minutes after the next shift of workers arrived the following morning that his body was found.

Until then, no one at the factory had realised there had been an accident.

A post-mortem examination will be carried out, but police said there was no suspicion of any criminal intent.

A spokeswoman for the company said: "The Health and Safety Executive are conducting an investigation and the company is co-operating fully with them.

"We have extended our deepest sympathies and condolences to the family and our thoughts are with them."