AN inquest has opened into the death of a pensioner who fell at a recycling centre.

Bruce Norton-Amor, 85, of The Harrage, Romsey, fell and hit his head while climbing some concrete steps at the Household Waste Recyling Centre, in Bunny Lane, Timsbury.

The widower was taken to Southampton General Hospital following the incident, which happened last Wednesday shortly before 3pm, but died the next day.

It is understood he was with his daughter at the site and was helping her with the recycling when he fell.

Assistant deputy coroner for Central Hampshire Sarah Whitby opened and adjourned the inquest into Mr Norton-Amor’s death, in Winchester, yesterday.

The possible cause of death was given as brain haemorrhage and fractured skull.

Police have said they are treating it as an industrial accident and there were no suspicious circumstances.

The Health and Safety Executive has been making initial inquiries and said it was liaising with the coroner “as to whether there is any work related element relevant to this sad death”.

Hopkins Recycling Ltd, based in Botley, runs the site on behalf of Hampshire County Council, and has said it was carrying out an investigation.

The council has said because of where the fall happened it was technically classified as an industrial accident and it would co-operate with the Health and Safety Executive.