Farmer dies after Perthshire tractor accident

AN ELDERLY farmer died in an accident involving a tractor, police said today.

Neil Abercromby, 70, was killed while towing an appliance across a field in Glencarse near Perth.

The incident happened at around 5.15pm yesterday in the Pitlowie area.

It is understood the implement being towed became detached and the farmer, from the Forfar area, was thrown from the tractor.

A police statement said: "A joint investigation by Tayside Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is taking place and as in all sudden deaths a report will be submitted to the procurator fiscal."

Farm deaths account for the largest number of deaths at work in the UK.

HSE figures published last week showed the number of people killed at work was at a record low of 151, down from 178 in 2008-09.

But the number of UK agriculture deaths rose from 25 to 38.