A father and son have died after falling into an industrial silage tank on a farm.

Tributes were paid to Alan Ford, 72, and his son Rick, 42, by the Cheshire Agricultural Society on Thursday.

The two men were rescued from the tank at the farm in Aston-by-Budworth, near Arley in Cheshire, after emergency services were called at about 12.20pm on Wednesday.

Both men were pronounced dead at the scene.

A post on the Royal Cheshire County Show Facebook page said: “As chairman of the Cheshire Agricultural Society it is with profound sadness that I have to announce the untimely death of our past chairman Alan Ford and his son Rick following a tragic farming accident yesterday.

“Alan retired as chairman and director of the society in April this year and Rick has been a director of the society for several years.

“The Ford family have worked tirelessly for the society for many years and both Alan and Rick will be very sadly missed by everyone who knew them.

“We wish to extend our thoughts, sympathy and prayers to the families at this very difficult time.”

The names have not yet been confirmed by police.

A spokesman for Cheshire Police said an investigation was under way to establish the circumstances around the incident and the men’s next of kin had been informed.

A silage tank is specially designed for storing agricultural waste. It can hold animal waste and other materials until it is used as fertiliser or disposed of.