A PEDESTRIAN died after being struck by a tractor trailer.

A 79-year-old man was killed instantly after the trailer came loose from the tractor and careered into him.

Police are appealing for witnesses following the tragedy shortly before 9am on Sunday.

The popular man from Birch had been out walking to get his Sunday paper from The Hare and Hounds pub when he was hit at the junction of Birch Street and Hollington Row.

After striking the man the trailer crashed into an electricity pole which stopped it from smashing through a nearby cottage.

Police and paramedics raced to the scene but they were unable to save him.

A spokesman for Essex Police said: “The John Deere tractor and trailer were heading towards Wigborough.

“The trailer came loose and struck the man.

“Police are investigating and the Health and Safety Executive has been informed.”

One neighbour, who rushed to the scene to try and help, said: “My husband heard it and saw the sparks.

“I ran up there and he was under the trailer and I went under to see what I could do.

“The people in the cottage had called an ambulance but there was nothing we could do."

The tractor may have been overtaking a cyclist at the time, according to one neighbour near the scene.

He said: “I heard the impact.

“He obviously just couldn’t get out of the way.

“He wouldn’t have seen it and he may not have heard it.

“He had a hearing aid and would lip read.

“He would walk up most mornings and I would often walk with him to the pub to get the paper.

“He was a smashing bloke.”

Birch Street was closed throughout the day while police examined the scene and engineers from UK Power Networks worked to restore electricity.

Any witnesses or anyone with information is asked to call the serious collision investigation unit at Essex Police on 101 or email collisionappeal@essex.pnn.police.uk