Pictured: The rickety bridge that killed worker on £900-a-head pheasant shoot and injured 10 others when it collapsed to send them plunging into river

 A man killed and several others injured in Roeburndale when their trailer plunged into a river after a bridge collapsed had been involved in a £900-a-head pheasant shoot.

The victims are understood to have been mainly 'beaters' who had been tasked with flushing out the birds so they can be shot.

Eleven of them had been on the back of a trailer returning back to the farm after the shoot had finished yesterday afternoon.

The trailer, pulled by a Polaris Ranger vehicle, fell into the river when the bridge suddenly gave way underneath it.

A farm worker who knew some of those involved said: ' They had been out pheasant shooting yesterday afternoon and were heading back to the farm.

A man died when an all-terrain vehicle and a trailer fell into a river as this bridge collapsed

Emergency services, including fire crews, at the scene of where a bridge has collapsed in Roeburndale, Lancashire

Cave & Mountain rescue units are also in attendance at the scene after a vehicle fell into the river

The fatal incident took place near Roeburndale, Lancashire - just a few miles from the Yorkshire Dales border

'There were 11 of them on the back of trailer, most of them had been working as beaters.

'As they've crossed the bridge, it's crumbled and collapsed underneath them and the trailer has fallen into their river some 10-15 feet. 

'A friend of mine is in hospital with head injuries. A few others who were on the trailer escaped with less serious injuries.

'The shoot is £900-a-head and people come from all over the country.

'It's very sad, I don't know why the bridge collapsed.'

Police vehicle with sirens blazing on their way to the scene of the incident in the rural area of Roeburndale

A stock picture of a Polaris Ranger. The vehicle was carrying a trailer when it fell into the river on Tuesday

Fire and rescue crews at the scene of the incident on Tuesday night, where a man has died and several more have been seriously injured

A large presence of emergency services at the scene following the incident at around 4.25pm

Emergency services including police, ambulance crews, fire crews and mountain rescue attended the scene.

Road closures are in place and expected to continue for some time.

An investigation into the circumstances around the incident is underway and the Health and Safety Executive has been informed.

Det Insp Kirsty Wyatt, of Lancashire Police, said: 'My thoughts are very much with all those involved in what is a very sad and tragic incident.

'One man has sadly died and a number of people have suffered serious injuries.

'At this time we believe the vehicle was pulling the trailer, containing a number of people, when a bridge gave way. Those people were then thrown from the vehicle and trailer.

'Our investigation is at very early stages and enquiries are ongoing to establish what happened.'

Anyone with information which can help police can call 101 quoting log 0953 of January 18.