Father and son die after falling into silage tank
BBCA father and son have died after falling into an industrial silage tank at a farm in Cheshire.
Alan Ford, 72, and his son Rick, 42, were working on the farm in Aston by Budworth, near Northwich, when they fell into the tank at about 12:20 BST on Wednesday.
Tributes were paid to them by the Cheshire Agricultural Society, which said Alan Ford was a former chairman.
Police, firefighters and paramedics attended the farm on Cann Lane and removed the men from the tank but both were pronounced dead at the scene.
A post on the Royal Cheshire County Show Facebook page said: "As chairman of the Cheshire Agricultural Society it is with profound sadness that I have to announce the untimely death of our past chairman Alan Ford and his son Rick following a tragic farming accident yesterday.
"Alan retired as chairman and director of the society in April this year and Rick has been a director of the society for several years.
"The Ford family have worked tirelessly for the society for many years and both Alan and Rick will be very sadly missed by everyone who knew them.
"We wish to extend our thoughts, sympathy and prayers to the families at this very difficult time."
The names have not yet been confirmed by Cheshire Police who said an investigation was under way to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident.
North West Ambulance Service said various ambulance resources were sent to the incident.
The Health and Safety Executive, the workplace safety regulator, said its inspectors visited the farm on Wednesday and it was liaising with Cheshire Police.
The force said the men's families had "requested for their privacy to be respected at this difficult time".
Cann Lane was closed while emergency services dealt with the incident.
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