A LEDBURY van driver has died in a crash near a cider mill.

How Caple Road in Much Marcle, near Ledbury, was closed for several hours on Monday after a van hit a barrier outside the Westons Cider plant.

The 65-year-old worked at Westons.

Daryl Hinksman, head of business development at Westons Cider, said: “We are very sorry to announce that one of our colleagues has passed away following an incident at our site during the morning of Monday, September 28.

“Our thoughts, and those of the entire company, are with the family at this very sad time.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Sadly, despite best efforts, it was not possible to save him.”

The blue Peugeot van had crashed into a barrier outside a business on the road at around 10.45am.

The van driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

His next of kin have been informed.

The Health and Safety Executive has also been informed and a joint investigation into the crash has been launched, a police spokesperson confirmed on Tuesday.

The road closure remained in place until around 4.45pm while the emergency services worked at the scene.

Daryl Hinksman, head of business development at Westons Cider, said: “We are very sorry to announce that one of our colleagues has passed away following an incident at our site during the morning of Monday, September 28.

“Our thoughts, and those of the entire company, are with the family at this very sad time.

“We would like to thank all the emergency services who attended the incident and acted so professionally.

“We are now working with the relevant authorities to establish the circumstances surrounding this incident.”

An ambulance and a paramedic officer were joined at the scene by the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham with a doctor and critical care paramedic on board along with a second BASICS emergency doctor.

Police and firefighters were also on scene to help medics as they dealt with the emergency.