UK Coal guilty over miner's death

Kellingley Colliery is one of Britain's deepest remaining mines

UK Coal has pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches over the death of a miner at a North Yorkshire colliery.

Ian Cameron, 46, died in 2009 when equipment fell on him at Kellingley pit, Leeds Crown Court heard.

The company admitted failing to ensure powered roof supports were properly maintained and health and safety breaches at the coal face.

The Doncaster-based firm will be sentenced after the trial of Joy Mining Machinery Ltd who also face charges.

Worcester-based equipment company Joy Mining has denied a charge of failing to ensure that people, including UK Coal, were provided with all the necessary information about health and safety risks in relation to the use of powered roof supports at Kellingley.

The trial is expected to take place later this year.

Mr Cameron's death was one of three at Kellingley in the last three years.

Don Cook died in a rock fall in September 2008 and last September, Gerry Gibson, 49, died in another underground incident.

Last year, UK Coal was ordered to pay £1.2m in fines and costs after it admitted health and safety breaches in relation to the deaths of four miners in four different incidents at pits in Warwickshire and Nottinghamshire.