A construction manager from Chesham who was described as the "nicest bloke in the world" was crushed to death when a heavy roller shutter landed on him at the site he was supervising, a coroner heard this week.

Father-of-three Peter Harris had worked in the "fit out" industry for years and was hired by a friend to site manage the renovation of a shop unit - turning it from an ice-cream parlour into a bar named Barcaro.

Almost two weeks after celebrating their 29th wedding anniversary, widow Davina received the tragic news of her husband's death from two police officers who went to her home in Chesham.

Giving evidence on the day which would have been her husband's 60th birthday, the widow told Surrey Coroner Simon Wickens: "The police told me he had died when a large, heavy roller shutter fell down on top of him."

On the day of his employee's death, manager of Oaktree Commercial Solutions Steve Dummett had explained to the devastated widow, who sat in a wheelchair at the inquest, what had happened to her husband.

"He told me the glazier had called him to say the roller shutter was in the way and they could not get to the shop front. Pete, being the kind and helpful man he was, set about doing it himself," Mrs Harris told the inquest jury.

Mr Harris was struck on the head by the shutter on the morning of October 26, 2017.

Dr Charlotte Randall, a forensic pathologist, told the jury how he had become trapped and pinned underneath the metal, crushing him.

She said: "When he was pulled from underneath the shutter, he was conscious, his breathing was laboured but he rapidly deteriorated. He sustained serious injuries. The prolonged entrapment pinning his chest down caused symptoms of crush asphyxia."

The consultant told the coroner of Mr Harris' serious injuries which included the fracture of several ribs in more than one place, a fractured breast bone, fractured neck, fracture to the cervical spine and a large tear in his lung.

A post-mortem examination confirmed the then 57-year-old, had died from multiple injuries.

Housewife Davina Harris sat in the front row of the hearing with 27-year-old son Callum, 25-year-old daughter Emily and youngest son, 20-year-old Kyle, as they listened to the evidence.

Mrs Harris told the jury how Pete - as he was affectionately known - was an extremely caring and supportive husband particularly after she had suffered a stroke in 2003 and was paralysed down her left side.

"He stood by my side, a lesser man would have left. I was a very lucky lady to have had him in my life," she told the jury.

Close work colleague Graham Hitchman set up a Justgiving page for his friend, raising a significant £8,000.

He said: "Peter Harris was a wonderful man who was a pleasure to be around. He was a little guy with a huge heart.

"I got to know Peter through work and realised we had many things in common. We worked together for many years and became good friends. I will miss him terribly as will all his other friends and colleagues and, of course, especially his family."

Similar comments posted painted a picture of a caring and hard-working man.

Mike Till said: "I have only good memories of working with Peter over many years. He was a true gentleman, so committed - a real diamond."

Les Fisk added: "Such a sad loss, Pete was the nicest bloke in the world."

The inquest continues.