A MAN was killed and three others injured in an industrial accident at a Kent cement works.

Police fire and ambulance crews were called to Blue Circle’s riverside site at The Shore, Northfleet, following the incident which happened at around 7.30am on Saturday.

Four maintenance workers were carrying out early morning routine work to the kiln when a lump of concrete fell from it.

Lynne Overett, from Blue Circle, said: "The incident happened during maintenance work when a lump of concrete fell from the kiln, crushing one man and injuring three others.

"The crushed man later died from his injuries but the other three workers were treated for minor injuries at the scene."

A spokesman for North Kent Police said: "It would appear that there has been an industrial accident that was aggravated by it being a fatality in a tunnel."

Fire crews from both Dartford and Thames-side fire stations attended the incident.

The dead man, who was in his 40s, has not yet been named.