A teenage binman who was killed when he fell under the wheels of a recycling lorry had been warned that he was getting too close to the vehicle on his round, an inquest heard.

Craig Reaney, aged 18, who had only been in the job for three months, had also been darting between cars to pick up boxes, a witness said. Mr Reaney, from Cannock, died as he was crushed under the vehicle while on a collection round on February 26. An inquest was held at Stafford Combined Court Centre yesterday.

Mr Reaney, of Kelvin Drive, Chadsmoor, was working for Verdant, which carries out kerbside recycling for Cannock Chase Council, when he was killed in Oaktree Road, Brereton.

Christopher Halfpenny, contract portfolio manager for Verdant, said Mr Reaney had been given a strict induction which highlighted the dangers of the job and forbade staff from standing on the footwell of the lorry.

Timothy Walker, driver of the lorry, told the inquest that Mr Reaney was a very good worker. He said: “I had gestured for him to get away prior to the collision because there were some parked cars and he was going in between them. But he did get away.

“He knew the rules about not standing on the footwell of the lorry and he kept to those rules.”

As Mr Walker approached the junction to go left into Waterside he heard a loud bang to the left of his vehicle.

The jury recorded a verdict of accidental death.

Mr Andrew Haigh, South Staffordshire coroner, said: “This was a tragic accident. Craig was a healthy man and was well liked and respected for being a good refuse operative. I am very sorry he should be killed in such terrible circumstances.”