A HEARTBROKEN widow is to sue steel maker Corus over the death of her husband.

Bob Powlay, 54, was involving in welding work on a roller which had sheared on a 48-year-old conveyor belt at the pipe works in Portrack, Stockton.

He was fatally injured when, on switching on a conveyor belt to check a weld seam, he set off a proximity switch which sent a three-and-a-half tonne steel plate on its way to a machine, crushing him in its path.

Corus pleaded guilty at Teesside Magistrates' Court this week to a breach of health and safety regulations.

Magistrates fined Corus £10,000, and the company was also ordered to pay costs of £1,286.

Mrs Powlay, who lives in Redcar, east Cleveland, said yesterday: "We have been in touch with solicitors and we are taking civil action.''

The 59-year-old says a transcript of last year's inquest into her husband's death and the report of the investigation which followed the tragedy, conflict with some of the mitigation offered by Corus at the court.

She said: "I am defending my husband against some of the things that have been said. He is not here to defend himself. I am very angry."

She said her husband had been inspecting welding work carried out by a colleague when the accident happened, and had not undertaken the actual welding job as was stated during the court case.

Mr Powlay died in hospital just weeks before the couple would have celebrated their 31st wedding anniversary.

A spokesman for Corus said last night: "It is distressing to lose a colleague in such tragic circumstances. Corus considers the health and safety of its employees as the highest priority and has co-operated fully with the investigations and recommendations made by the Health and Safety Executive since the accident occurred."