The night shift staff were all sent home following the man's death

The 33-year-old was thought to have gone inside a sweet-making machine to fix a problem when it started up again and his leg became trapped.

The man, from Bournemouth, worked as a starch room operator at Tangerine Confectionery on Alder Road in Poole.

Ambulance staff tried to treat his injuries but he was pronounced dead at hospital at 0300 GMT on Wednesday. An investigation is under way.

The factory, known locally as Parrs Quality Confectionery Ltd, was taken over by Tangerine Confectionery in 2006 and employs 150 people.

Not suspicious

The man's leg was trapped in the depositing machine, which transfers a liquid sweet mixture into moulds before it sets into gums and jellies.

A Tangerine spokesman said the night shift staff were all sent home following the man's death.

Police sealed off the machine for crime scene officers to examine and were also talking to other staff about the man's death.

"There are no suspicious circumstances," a Dorset Police spokesman said.

Police are carrying out a joint investigation with the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and the coroner has been informed.