INVESTIGATIONS have been launched after a 50-year-old man was taken to hospital following an incident at the BMW Mini plant in Cowley, Oxford.

Paramedics were called to the factory at 10.45am on Thursday after receiving reports a man was suffering from breathing difficulties.

Police also received calls that machinery had fallen on top of a man. The casualty was taken to the John Radcliffe hospital but his injuries were not thought to be life threatening.

Police spokeswoman Rebecca Webber said: “We were called after a report that some machinery had fallen on top of a man.”

She added: “His injuries were not thought to be serious. He was conscious but was having breathing difficulties.”

Ms Webber said the incident was passed to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

A spokesman for the organisation said: “We are aware of it and we are making initial inquiries.”

A BMW spokesman said: “There was an incident involving a failure of some lifting equipment at the plant on Thursday. An associate was taken to hospital and has since returned home.

“The HSE was informed immediately. An internal investigation into the incident is ongoing and no further details are available at this stage.”