A RETIRED builder died in a freak accident yesterday, when a six-foot-tall oil tank toppled over and crushed him.

George Andrews, of Pound Green, Arley, near Bewdley, was working on a central heating system outside his rural home, when the 500-gallon container fell fromits two support jacks and pinned him to the ground.

The 76-year-old, who achieved notoriety in 1998 when police laid siege to his house over a council tax dispute, was unable to dislodge the rectangular tank and shouted for help.

"I heard him call and when I went outside I saw the tank was lying on top of him, with just his face showing," said his 75-year-old widow, Barbara. "I was shocked and confused and he told me to get help."

She immediately telephoned a neighbour - who was out - and then the emergency services.

A second neighbour, 66-year-old Brian Wood, heard Mr Andrews' call for help, but could not tell who was in trouble or where the cries had come from.

"At first it was quite loud but it became so faint that I thought it was just children playing around," said the retired manufacturing worker. "I was a bit confused as there aren't many children who live near here.

Fire brigade

"The next thing I knew the fire brigade were here, asking me where the house was, and they were followed by the ambulance and air ambulance."

The incident took place around 10.30am yesterday, and the emergency services remained in Arley for about an hour.

Though the oil tank was empty at the time, the pensioner was unable to get himself free and was pronounced dead at the scene.

A close friend, who had known Mr Andrews for 30 years but did not want to be named, was very shocked at the incident.

"He was a very capable man, who could fix anything at all," he said. "The problem was he was using two scissor-jacks, like ones used to raise cars, and their base was too small for such a large tank.

"Anything could have sent it falling and unfortunately it landed on him. I was out walking my dogs when Barbara called me, and it runs very hard that I wasn't able to be there when he needed my help."

40 police

In August, 1998, 40 policemen surrounded Mr Andrews' home, after he refused to pay £1,000 in council tax because he believed poor drainage had affected his house price.

The furious pensioner, who had locked himself in his home with 26 firearms, was eventually arrested after four days of intensive negotiations, but the Crown Prosecution Service did not press charges.