Mid Sussex environmental health chiefs spoke out after two firms were fined a total of £47,000 over an accident in which a cashier broke an arm and a leg falling through a hatch at a shop in East Grinstead.

Mid Sussex Council prosecuted Seeboard and the Wine Cellar for the accident at the shop the High Street.

It has prosecuted before where firms have been careless in protecting the safety of workers.

Pat Webster, chairman of the council's community services committee, said: "The council considers prosecution as the last resort, but took this action because of the absence of safety measures.

"The high level of fines reflect the seriousness with which the court viewed the case."

In the incident which led to the prosecution the cashier fell 9ft through the floor and down a hatch left open by electricians.

Council officers investigating the accident found safety precautions were not in place.

Seeboard was fined £10,000 after pleading guilty to one charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The Parisa Group, which owns the Wine Cellar, was fined £37,000 for two breaches of that Act and two of the 1992 Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations Act.

Acompany spokesman said: "We've since had a comprehensive review of all our health and safety arrangements."

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