TRIBUTES have been paid to a father who died following an incident at a cold storage unit on Stone Cross Enterprise Park in Lowton.

Fifty-four-year-old Alan Golden, from Oswestry in Shropshire, was found dead shortly after 2pm on Tuesday, September 27.

Refrigerating company Cold Move said Mr Golden, who was married with children, had been employed by the firm for two years and had settled in very well.

James Woodward, Cold Move managing director, said: "Following a serious incident at our Golborne premises, it is with regret and sadness that we confirmed that Alan Golden, an engineer employed by the company died.

"The management and staff wish to express our deepest condolences to his family.

"We would like to thank the emergency services for their professional conduct in this difficult situation and Cold Move will be co-operating fully in their investigations."

Manchester West Coroners opened an inquest into Mr Golden's death on Monday afternoon.

It is believed ammonia may have leaked from a plant room in a cold storage unit on the estate on Yew Tree Way.

Firefighters were called to the industrial estate shortly after 10am and had to work releasing the ammonia from the building into the environment until 5pm the following day, Wednesday September 28.

Ian Bailey, assistant divisional officer for Greater Manchester Fire Service, said: "We handed over the incident to factory management and the health and safety executive when we were happy that the levels of the contaminant, both in the building and that which could have been released into the atmosphere, were at an acceptable level."

Greater Manchester Police and Wigan Council are conducting a joint investigation into the incident.