Two men have died after becoming trapped in a slurry tank in a farm near Romford.

The emergency services were called to Albyns Lane, in Stappleford Tawney, at around 5pm on Friday.

A 48-year-old man, from Norfolk, and a 27-year-old man from Ongar, Essex, died at the scene.

Provisional causes of death were given as drowning for the 48-year-old and immersion for the younger victim.

Ambulance crews from Harlow, Loughton and Stansted, as well as the hazardous area response team (HART), were dispatched to the scene.

Ambulance spokesman said: “First and foremost our thoughts are with the families of all involved in this tragic incident.

“On our arrival, two men were found in a critical condition and after everyone’s best efforts, they were pronounced dead at the scene.”

Another two men were rescued from the pit and taken to an east London hospital.

They were treated for exposure to methane gas, and have since been released.

Firefighters from Essex County Fire and Rescue Service pumped 120,000 litres of slurry into a nearby field as part of the rescue operation.

Slurry is a mix of water and animal waste, which is used fertiliser.

It remains unclear how the deaths occurred, but police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) - which looks into workplace accidents - are invesigating.