The man killed after being trapped between a wall and a vintage vehicle has been named locally as George Manser

The 63-year-old, named locally as George Manser, was found trapped by one of his vintage trams at the back of his engineering business in Sarisbury Green, where it is understood he also lived.

Emergency services battled for almost an hour to free the injured businessman, but despite their best efforts they were unable to save him.

Neighbours spoke last night of their shock about the tragic death, describing Mr Manser, who ran Manser Precision Engineering, as an “amazing man”.

One neighbour, who did not wish to be named, said: “He was an amazing man.

“Walking through his garage is like walking through a mini museum full of treasures, it's amazing. The accident is very sad and sounds quite awful.

“There were a lot of sirens, a helicopter came and police were here too but he was dead when they got here.”

The drama unfolded at around 6.30pm on Sunday evening when Mr Manser, who neighbours said lived on his own in the Old School House, in Barnes Lane, where he ran his own company.

A crew of at least ten firefighters from Hightown fire station were despatched to the scene to lift him out but despite spending more than an hour to free him, they were unable to save him.

South Central Ambulance Service was also called to the scene and sent a Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, a rapid response car and one ambulance, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

A spokesperson said the man was trapped by “some sort of tram”.

Hampshire police have confirmed that the death is not being treated as suspicious and were last night informing his next-of-kin.

A spokesperson added: “We can confirm police are preparing a file for HM Coroner after a man's death at an address on Barnes Lane in Sarisbury Green.”

MPE, Manser Precision Engineering, has been operating across the county since 1983 buying and selling vintage vehicles, including old trams like a dairy ice cream truck, old taxis, trailers and motorbikes.

Neighbour Tom Brock, who lives near to Barnes Lane, said: “I have never heard so many sirens before, it was a huge noise and I just knew something bad had happened.

“This sounds awful that poor man, it's a horrific incident.”