AN investigation is underway into the death of an IKEA contractor last night who was operating a hydraulics goods lift.

The third-party contractor was undertaking works on the machine in the loading bay at the back of the store.

As a result of the incident the Calcot store was closed all day, with no indication of when it will reopen. 

Police, fire and one rapid response vehicle from South Central Ambulance Service were on the scene in Pincents Lane at 2.33am after the alarm was first raised.

The Health and Safety Executive has confirmed they will not be looking into the death 'because of the nature of the incident' but Thames Valley Police this morning launched an investigation.

“We are saddened to confirm that this morning a contractor died in an incident at our site,” said Javier Quinones, the deputy retail manager of IKEA UK and Ireland.

“The safety and security of everyone one our premises is always our highest priority and we are now supporting the police with their investigation.

“Our thoughts are with the individual's family at this time.”

Hundreds of people were turned away from the Swedish giant's furniture shop this morning.

No arrests have been made but a spokesman for Thames Valley Police said: “Officers will remain in place on site while an investigation is carried out.”

This is the latest piece of misfortune to hit the store which opened on July 14.

Soon after its opening shoppers were trapped in the multi-storey car park on the first Sunday of trading for up to four hours while staff handed out bottles of water.

Some gave up and abandoned their vehicles and returned once the car park was operational again.

Soon after, there were further traffic delays at the furniture store in August with motorists once again gridlocked at the store.

This was despite IKEA spending £4million on new junctions and road widening, while West Berkshire Council spent £900,000 on improving the A4 junction.

A spokeswoman for IKEA said she did not know when the store would reopen.