The van involved in the fatal accident (025453-1)Father-of-two Barry Howard, 37, was working on a Ford Transit van near garages in Chantry Road, Gosport, when the tragedy happened.

Neighbour David Woodsford, 46, whose house in Heaton Road backs on to the mechanic's home, called emergency services just moments after the accident at around 5pm yesterday.

Mr Woodsford said: 'I heard a crashing sound and went out the back and there was a van on top of him. The front wheel was very close to his face with the axle on his chest.'

When an ambulance crew arrived, they found the vehicle was resting on the mechanic's chest and he was caught under the van, which weighs around 2.5 tonnes.

A doctor pronounced him dead at the scene.

Police inspector Gavin McMillan said: 'As no one saw the accident no one is sure exactly what happened. We will be carrying out checks on the jack and on the vehicle, but at this stage it looks like a tragic accident.'

Neighbours today said Mr Howard, who had two sons, was a very friendly family man.

Linda Wood, 46, from Chantry Road, said: 'We had known him for nine and a half years. He was our mechanic and a very good one.'