A CONSTRUCTION company has been ordered to pay almost £110,000 for health and safety breaches, which led to the death of a worker from Thornbury.

Lance Taylor, 23, was working on a housing development in Abbeymead, Gloucester in February 2005, when he was crushed by a digger he was not trained to operate.

Mr Taylor had accidentally nudged a lever in the digger as he leaned out to give the keys for another vehicle to a workmate. The lever operated a boom, which swung backwards, crushing his head against the cab.

At Gloucester Crown Court today Friday, January 15, Macob Administration Ltd of Bridgend, South Wales admitted two breaches of the Health and Safety Act by failing to prevent the digger being operated by untrained staff and by failing to train employees to use it.

After the hearing Mr Taylor's parents, Hillar, 52, and Sue, 48, of Wye Court, Thornbury, said the case might now be over for the company but not for them.

Mr Taylor said: "We shall always have a hole in our lives because we have lost our only son. "My line has ended because although I have two daughters it was Lance who would have carried on the Taylor name.

"I just hope the fines are enough to make the company realise they cannot do just what they want with peoples lives.

"For the company this case is now finished but for me and my wife and daughters it will never finish. We all miss Lance every day."

In court Sarah Lefevre, defending, said Macob Administration Ltd had co-operated fully with the health and safety executive investigation and had pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity.

A spokeswoman for the firm said: "The company is deeply sorry for the tragic events of 11 February 2005 and offers its full condolences to the family and friends of Lance Taylor.

"During the intervening years the company has sought to ensure so far as possible that a similar incident could not occur again."

The firm was fined £40,000 for each breach of the Health and Safety Act. Judge William Hart also ordered the company to pay prosecution costs of £29,798.40 and a £15 surcharge. He gave Macob one year to pay.

Mr Taylor is survived by his parents and sisters Stacey, 22, and Michelle, 27.