A Lancashire, England, firm has been heavily fined after a Blackburn worker and a colleague suffered serious injuries when a floor collapsed at a demolition site.

Demolition worker Anthony Hartley, from Blackburn, and workmate Kevin Waller were employed on a project to convert a BAE Ordnance site on Hercules Business Park, Lostock Lane, Lostock , Bolton, at the time.

The pair fell approximately four meters when flooring at the old munitions works crumbled, during an incident in October 2002, and have never been able to work again.

Their employers, Penwortham-based J W Ouseby, were taken to court by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

Company officials yesterday pleaded guilty to failing to provide a safe system of work, and failing to provide sufficient supervision and instruction for employees.

The firm was fined a total of