Tributes have been paid to a truck driver who tragically died after being trapped under a tree in Powys.

The man has been named locally as Graham Pugh, 51, of Tregynon, near Newtown. Mr Pugh died following the incident in Cascob, Presteigne, on Tuesday.

The emergency services were called to the scene just before 11.50am to free him after he became trapped.

But Mr Pugh died from his injuries while being transported to hospital by air ambulance.

Mr Pugh’s brother-in-law Malcolm Bayliss, 55, of Tregynon, paid tribute to him, saying he was a “genuine family man”.

Mr Bayliss lives next-door to his sister and her family, Mr Pugh’s wife Diane and 16-year-old daughter Siobhan.

He said: “He worked for a firm that used to lug timber out the wood, a haulage/timber contractor.

“He liked his trucks and loved driving a truck. He had a 20-year-old tractor that he was going to do up.”

He said Mr Pugh was originally from the Rhayader area but had lived in Tregynon since about 1981.

He added: “He was a family man and kept himself to himself.

“They have got three horses and Siobhan is really into them.

“He is most probably one of the most laid back blokes I have ever met. He never got flustered about anything.

“He was a very cool, calm and collected person.

“He loved his trucks. He would go to truck shows at Donnington Race Track or the Welshpool Transport weekend – anything to do with trucks. He was just a genuine family man.”

Mr Bayliss added that the funeral has not yet been arranged.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said they were aware of the incident. The spokesman added that an inspector has been to the site and they are investigating the incident.

A post-mortem examination was due to be held into Mr Pugh’s death today.

By Suzanne Roberts