A VERDICT of accidental death has been reached at an inquest of a Bradford factory worker who fell 30ft through a skylight.

Richard Perry, 43, and his workmate Mark Cromack used blackout vinyl from the factory to try to block out the sun after temperatures topped 30 degrees in the workroom at Whiteghyll Plastics, City Road, Bradford.

But fabricator Mr Perry fell through a fifth skylight he was covering and died of a head injury after accessing the roof through a TV room window.

The jury of seven women and four men yesterday took four hours to reach their conclusion at Bradford Crown Court after an eight-day inquest.

They returned a verdict of accidental death with a narrative verdict of missed opportunities by a number of people to draw to the attention of the company that they were aware, or anticipated, that Mr Perry, of Crimple Green, Garforth, Leeds, and Mr Cromack were going to be on the roof on June 13 last year.

A statement read out by the foreman of the jury said: "We have considered whether Richard Perry had permission and cannot determine one way or the other."

Speaking after the verdict, Mr Perry's wife, Samantha, said: "The evidence has answered many questions but sadly, we still feel that there are some questions left unanswered.

"We will now have to try and move forward with our lives the best we all can.

"'Pez' was loved by all who knew him, whether as a husband, father, son, brother, friend or colleague."

Ken Wilson, managing director of Whiteghyll Plastics, said: "Everyone at the company are still to this day deeply affected by the loss of a well-liked and highly-skilled fabricator.

"This was a tragic accident and Richard will always be missed."

The inquest earlier heard how Mr Perry had been complaining about the heat on the shopfloor on the day of his fatal accident.

It previously heard how he had gone into the vinyl room earlier that day to ask for a sample of vinyl to cover a skylight. He had wanted silver vinyl but it was suggested black-out vinyl from a leftover roll kept in the corner of the room would be better for the job and he was cut a piece which he took away with no questions asked.

Mr Perry and Mr Cromack brought a full roll of vinyl and began cutting it on work-mate Richard Dixon's workbench at about 1.15pm, minutes before Mr Perry fell.

Mr Dixon asked them what they were doing but they did not give him an explanation.

They were cutting one-metre by two-metre strips of vinyl from the roll.