A construction worker was killed yesterday in a crane accident in central Glasgow.

He was pronounced dead at the scene in Cowcaddens, where he was working on the exterior of Buchanan House in Port Dundas Road.

He is believed to have fallen from the cradle of a 43-metre truck-mounted lift and hit scaffolding when the cherry picker arm snapped.

Emergency vehicles were called to the scene at about 12.25pm yesterday and brought a second man - thought to have been the machine operator - to Glasgow's Royal Infirmary after he sustained a serious head injury.

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Eyewitnesses said at least one man became trapped after the crane boom buckled at the top of the second section of its three section jib.

The equipment is thought to have been on hire from a local company to a safety netting contractor.

Dozens of police officers and firefighters stayed outside the office building yesterday afternoon conducting investigations, while colleagues of the killed and injured men emerged in shock.

Strathclyde Police evacuated most of the ten-storey building's staff as a precautionary measure after the accident.

The men were carrying out the latest phase of refurbishment work to the ten-storey Buchanan House, on the site of the former Buchanan Street railway station.

Network Rail and Transport Scotland rent offices there.

(NE)