A man has been airlifted with a head injury to hospital after falling down a lift shaft at a flour mill factory in Bedfordshire.

The contractor was repairing a lift door at Bowmans at Ickleford near Hitchin when he fell about 4.6m (15ft).

The chief executive Rory Bowman said several staff liaised with emergency services and manually pulled the lift to safety with the man on top.

The man is being treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge.

Gary Sanderson, East of England Ambulance service spokesman, said: "One of our fast response car medics who arrived first at the scene was able to climb down a ladder and commence immediate care until the arrival of his colleagues."

The Hertfordshire and Essex air ambulance transported him to the hospital.

Three fire crews also helped with the rescue.

Mr Bowman said: "All our thoughts are with the electrical contractor and his family.

"We were very pleased with how staff responded and although we don't have all the facts yet an investigation has begun."

Mr Bowman said the man had been conscious throughout the hour-long ordeal.

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