Investigation after contractor dies at Blenheim Palace

An investigation has been launched after a man was killed by a tipper truck on the grounds of Blenheim Palace.

Thames Valley Police said it was called to the Unesco World Heritage site at about 13:00 BST on 14 October following an incident on the palace grounds.

It said a 50-year-old man had died in the "industrial incident", and that it was investigating the fatality alongside the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Blenheim Palace, in Woodstock, Oxfordshire, is one of the country's most complete country estates, and is was the ancestral home of wartime Prime Minister Sir Winston Churchill.

Dominic Hare, the palace's chief executive, said he was "deeply saddened" by the death - which he said had taken place on a construction site on the wider estate.

He said the man had been working as a contractor at the site, and that "heartfelt condolences" were with his family, friends and colleagues at this "extremely difficult time".

"We are supporting Thames Valley Police and the Health and Safety Executive with their investigation, and it would not be appropriate to comment further while that continues," he added.

The HSE confirmed to the BBC that it was investigating the incident.

The 12,000-acre Blenheim estate is the current ancestral seat of James Spencer-Churchill, 12th Duke of Marlborough.

It was built as a gift to the 1st Duke of Marlborough from Queen Anne after his victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704.

In recent years, it has become one of Oxfordshire's top tourist attractions, and has hosted European leaders as well as US President Donald Trump, who attended a dinner as part of a state visit to the UK in 2018.