A COMPANY director was cleared yesterday of the manslaughter of one of his workers.

The jury at Teesside Crown Court took four hours to return a verdict of not guilty on former councillor John Elders and his company, Factory Cover, in connection with the death of roof worker Stanley Dawson, a 50-year-old father-of-three.

Mr Dawson died from head injuries after falling 25ft on to a concrete floor while working for the company, in May 2000.

Mr Elders, 48, of The Green, Elwick, near Hartlepool, and his firm were jointly charged with manslaughter and denied the allegation.

Mr Elders was also charged with two breaches of the 1974 Safety at Work Act, to which he pleaded guilty.

Factory Cover, of Tofts Farm Industrial Estate, Hartlepool, admitted the same charges of failing to make an adequate risk assessment and failing to provide adequate safety equipment.

The company and Mr Elders will be sentenced in five weeks' time.

The court heard that Mr Dawson, of Huxley Walk, Hartlepool, was working for Factory Cover at a warehouse in Billingham, leased by Nicholsons Transport.

The only safety equipment provided, said Simon Jackson, prosecuting, were seven safety boards. It appeared that Mr Dawson had died after losing his balance and falling through a skylight, he said.

He said Mr Elders knew the roof and skylights were fragile, but had not provided safety harnesses, a safety net or other measures which would have prevented the accident, or minimised its effects.

After the verdict, Mr Elders' solicitor, Barry Grey, said his client was greatly relieved by the jury's verdict after two years of waiting for the trial to begin.

"Mr Elders greatly regrets the untimely death of Stanley Dawson and his thoughts are with his family at this time," said Mr Grey.

Bruno Porter, health and safety inspector at the Health and Safety Executive, said: "We are pleased with the result on the health and safety charges, including two counts personally against Mr Elders as director of the company.

"This sends out a very strong message that directors of companies are ultimately responsible for health and safety in their companies."

Mr Elders was the youngest member of Hartlepool Borough Council when he was elected to serve the town in 1976. During an 18-year stint, he served on most of the authority's committees.

One of his biggest succ-esses came during 1977 and 1978 when he led negotiations with Northumbrian Water in a move to find a solution to flooding problems in parts of the town.

He established Factory Cover in 1982, specialising in industrial sheeting and cladding.