A firm has been told to pay more than £50,000 after a worker was crushed to death.

Kevin Smith died when he walked between a lorry and a forklift truck while he was working at a farm near Colchester.

The forklift lurched forward when it was started, pinning 48-year-old Mr Smith between it and a lorry. He died at the scene, Chelmsford Crown Court heard.

Mr Smith's employers, Anglia Grain Services of Wissington Road, Nayland, admitted a breach of health and safety legislation and were fined £35,000. The company was also told to pay £17,076 costs.

After the hearing, the firm's barrister, Gerard Forlin, said: "Our thoughts continue to be with the family following this tragic accident. Kevin was a well-liked, popular and hard working man."

The court heard that Mr Smith, from Elton Walk, Tiptree, was part of a three-man team working at Mulley's Farm. Little Bentley, on November 13, 2002.

They were loading sacks of grain and the process involved a forklift truck being used to remove the 500kg sacks when they were filled.

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Published Monday, September 27, 2004

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