A Shropshire builder who was crushed when a classroom roof collapsed on top of him died as the result of an accident, an inquest has ruled.

Mark Evans died when 2.4 tonnes of rubble fell on top of him when the roof of a timber classroom caved in at Moor Park School, at Richards Castle, near Ludlow, on August 14, 2007.

Mr Evans, 40, of Normandie Close, Ludlow, was one of five men working on demolishing the single storey classroom when the incident happened.

Yesterday a jury of 10 people returned a verdict of accidental death following an inquest in Shrewsbury, which lasted two days.

John Ellery, coroner for Mid and North West Shropshire, said: “The inquest heard from a number of people giving evidence and I accept the verdict of accidental death from the jury.

“I would like to thank the family and express my sympathies to them.”

On day one of the inquest, Mr Ellery said Mr Evans was likely to have died instantly and would not have suffered.

He added that other buildings had been demolished at the site prior to Mr Evans’s death.

“Death is likely to have been instant or Mr Evans would have lost consciousness in less than a minute. He would not have suffered in any way,” he said.

Mr Evans’s brother Alexander Magrail was working at the building site with his brother at the time of the incident.

He told the inquest: “I felt a gust of wind and felt sea sick. The roof came down on top of us and hit me on the right shoulder and Mark too.”

Evidence was also given by others who were working at the site, health and safety executive investigators and representatives from the school.

Following the inquest, Jonathan Bartlett, the headteacher at Moor Park School, said: “The school wishes to express its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Mr Evans.

“The school at all times sought to provide a safe environment for those who visited its premises.

“The school genuinely believed that the demolition of the single storey classroom would be undertaken safely by the contractors appointed.

“At no stage were pupils at the school put at risk and the work was undertaken during the school holidays.

“Following the accident Moor Park has taken steps to further enhance its system for managing building works at the school.”

By Andrew Morris