Dozens of devastated colleagues of a worker killed at a Corus tinplate plant are being offered counselling to get over the tragedy, the company said today.

Shocked workers at the close-knit Trostre plant in Llanelli were today mourning the popular father-of-three today.

Frances 'Frank' Coles, 42, died in hospital after an accident at the plant early on Saturday.

The tinplate plant was also closed at 9pm last night, reopening this morning at the time Mr Coles would normally have started his shift.

His wife and children were too distraught to speak today. But senior managers from the plant visited their home in Llanelli yesterday to pay their respects and offer help.

"They spoke to the family, offered their sympathy and gave any practical help they could," a Corus spokesman said.

"The most important thing that the family did ask was to ensure that we got to the bottom of what exactly happened at the plant.

"We assured them that we would do that any way because it is important to ensure something like this never happens anywhere else."

Despite having a large workforce of 940 on a sprawling industrial site outside Llanelli, the plant is seen as very close-knit.

"It sounds like a lot of people but everyone knows everyone," the spokesman said.

"The mood at the plant is still one of utter shock. Many of those who would have worked with Mr Coles today have been offered couselling. He had worked at the plant for 15 years."