A scrap processing company has been fined £200,000 following the death of a 69-year-old Sussex man at one of its plants.

Fitter Peter Jones, from Henfield, died during the annual overhaul of machinery at Mayer Parry (Recycling) Ltd at its plant in Willesden, north London, in August 1999.

Mr Jones was lifting a 130kg steel plate using a two-leg chain sling.

One of the legs caught part of the machine and then released violently, striking Mr Jones on the head. He was taken to hospital but died eight days later.

The company was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive.

A representative of the company pleaded guilty at Blackfriars Crown Court to one charge under the Health and Safety Act 1974, which states that employers must ensure the health and safety of their workforce.

Mayer Parry (Recycling) Ltd was fined £200,000 with £4,794.41 costs.

Gavin Bye, the HSE's principal inspector leading the case, said: "This fine properly reflects the seriousness of the offence and hopefully will send a strong message to the industry to tighten up health and safety management, particularly when considering lifting operations, which can have such a devastating affect when they go wrong."

No one at the company was immediately available for comment.