A COMPANY has admitted breaching health and safety regulations after a young man was crushed by falling steel.

James West, from Shildon, County Durham, died from serious chest injuries after steel stillages fell on him.

The accident at Northern Engineering and Fabrications Ltd, Cleveland Industrial Estate, Darlington happened after an overhead crane operated by an untrained colleague of Mr West's knocked over steel stillages which were stacked in the factory.

Yesterday, David McNeil, general manager and director of the company, appeared at Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court where on behalf of the firm he pleaded guilty to breaching health and safety regulations and failing to provide adequate training for crane operator Frederick Alan Bone.

Ros Danson representing NEF Ltd said that the company deeply regretted the death of Mr West and had pleaded guilty to the health and safety charges at the first available opportunity.

She said that since the accident all employees had been given the correct training and independent safety experts had been called in to give advice on future health and safety issues.

The case was adjourned for sentencing at crown court. Chairman of the Bench Diana Sutcliffe apologised to Mr West's family, who were sitting in court, for not being able to complete the case.

She said: "We regret that we cannot come to a conclusion today but we feel that something as serious as this should go to crown court."