An inquest into the death of popular Leighton man Joshua Bladon is due to be held at Amersham Courthouse in the new year.

The inquest is set to open at 10am on January 4 and is expected to last for three days during which a jury will hear evidence into how Joshua, 22, died after a trench he was digging for a house extension on April 16, 2008, caved in on him.

Joshua, of Brookside Walk, was taken to Stoke Mandeville Hospital where a post mortem showed he had died of asphyxiation.

Paperwork from the subsequent Thames Valley Police and Health and Safety Executive investigation was passed to the Crown Prosecution Service to decide whether manslaughter charges were to be laid against any individual or company.

But, no action was taken.

Joshua's dad, Tony, said: "It's been 20 months now since Joshua died and that's a long time.

"All we want, all we have ever wanted was justice for Joshua.

"I hope we get it and I hope it prevents something like this happening to anyone else."

Mr Bladon said Health and Safety Executive officers will be attending the inquest.