An inquest has been opened and adjourned into the death of a man killed when a tractor trailer became unhitched and struck him.

Frank Fenning, 79, was walking along Birch Street, Birch, on the morning of July 5.

Mr Fenning, of Mill Road, Birch, was struck by the tractor trailer and pronounced dead at the scene.

A post-mortem examination carried out at Colchester General Hospital found the provisional cause of death to be head injuries, an inquest was told at the Essex Coroners’ Court, Chelmsford, today.

Caroline Beasley-Murray, Essex senior coroner, officially opened the inquest during the hearing.

The matter was adjourned until next week when further preliminary matters will be dealt with.

The Health and Safety Executive is involved in the investigation following the death.

Today police have made a renewed appeal for witnesses to the incident.

Officers from the serious collision investigation unit are investigating the circumstances of the incident.

A 65-year-old man, who lives in the Colchester area, has been voluntarily interviewed as part of the investigation.

Any witnesses who may have seen the incident or the tractor and trailer before the collision are asked to contact the Essex Police serious collision investigation unit on 101 or they can email collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk