A COMPANY director from Blackburn has appeared in court charged with unlawfully killing an employee by gross negligence.

Peter Preston, of Rowen Park, Blackburn, appeared before a judge at Winchester Crown Court accused of causing the death of Christopher Shute, who died after falling into a vat of paint at a car factory.

Preston, 50, and Paul McKenzie, 53, were charged after the 30-year-old factory worker died when he slipped and fell into the giant vatat the Ford car paint shop factory in Southampton.

The pair were allegedly responsible for safety at the workshop.

Preston and McKenzie, of Hartford, Cheshire, were ordered to appear at the crown court again for a plea and directions hearing on May 13.

Emergency crews were called to the Southampton factory after the accident but Mr Shute was pronounced dead at hospital.

A spokesman for Hampshire Police said Mr Shute, of Winchester Road, Southampton, was a contract worker employed by Philips Services.

Preston and McKenzie were arrested after a joint 18-month investigation by Hampshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive.

Both men were granted bail until the next hearing in May.