A 44-year-old worker was in hospital today after his overall got caught in a machine.

Robert Varey, of Slater Avenue, Colne, had been operating a buffer machine - which removes excess rubber - at Pendle Polymer Engineering yesterday lunchtime when he was dragged towards it.

The father-of-two was taken to Burnley General Hospital suffering from bruising and five cracked ribs.

Tony Bielby, commercial director at the Foulridge company, said: "We have been in touch with the health and safety executive and they are happy we have taken every precaution possible.

"It was a very unfortunate accident and how it happened is being looked into.

"It is a moving machine and his overall has got caught in it.

"The stop button was pressed immediately by Mr Varey and he was able to free himself.

"It could have been a lot worse."

His wife Tracey said today that Mr Varey was "propped up in bed" at the hospital.

She said: "He is quite chatty but he just wants to get out.

"He hates being in places like that."

Mr Varey has worked at the company for just over a year and had worked there previously.