A LANCASHIRE 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 metres 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 £15,000 and ordered to pay £5,000 court costs at Manchester Crown Court.

The labourers were preparing an internal mezzanine floor for demoliton as part of the conversion works when the fall occurred.

Anna Bliss, a HSE principal inspector, said: "Demolition work is potentially the most dangerous work in the construction industry.

"The work being done by J W Ousby & Sons could have been carried out safely without extra cost if the planning or supervision had been adequate.

"Mr Hartley and Mr Waller were seriously injured when the floor they were standing on collapsed beneath them. The long-term effects on them and their families have been devastating, as their injuries have meant neither has been able to work again."

The work could have been carried out safely if the company had taken into account the stability of the structure and personnel were cleared away from the demolition site, she added.