Factory Boss Fined Over Fall

A director of a manufacturing company has been fined for health and safety breaches after an employee fell through a roof at a site in Cradley Heath. The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) prosecuted Adam Stephen Walker, director of Steven Walker and Sons Ltd, after Neil Tomkins suffered extensive bruising to his lower back after falling through a skylight onto a machine below. Mr Walker, 47, of New Wood Lane, Blakedown, Worcester, was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £5,000 costs after pleading guilty to breaching Section 37(1) of the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974.

Miss Scotland Adds Dinner Time Sparkle

Pupils at a Perthshire school found their school dinners had some extra sparkle today when Katharine Brown, Miss Scotland, served them lunch. Just a week after she wowed the international media in a stunning tartan dress during Scotland Week in New York, Katharine was happy to don a dinner lady uniform at Blackford Primary School. She joined school cook, Barbara Nicolson, to serve Scotch Beef steak pie, vegetables and potatoes to star-struck pupils at the school on their first day back from the Easter break.

Two Jailed For 'Drugs Factories'

Two men from east London who used their homes as Class A drugs factories have been sentenced to a total of 15 years in prison at Snaresbrook Crown Court. Hal McCollin, from Walthamstow, and Darren Williams, from Leyton, were convicted on 16 April 2010 for their role in the production of heroin and cocaine, despite never being found in possession of significant quantities of either drug. An investigation by the Metropolitan Police's Central Task Force - part of the Serious and Organised Crime command - named Operation Marzipan, revealed that properties linked to the pair contained items such as hydraulic pressing machines, food mixers and weighing scales on which traces of drugs were found. They were also found in possession of large amounts of powdered paracetemol and caffeine; substances often used as cutting agents by dealers.

New Observations Of Volcanic Dust

Met Office scientists have been working with the Universities of Reading and Hertfordshire to gather comprehensive data about the potential danger to aircraft from the volcanic plume. The volcanic dust was measured using newly-developed probes that attach to meteorological balloons that can be used for measuring volcanic dust. Met Office Chief Forecaster in conjunction with atmospheric dispersion scientists used the plume forecast to identify a suitable location for the launch.

(GK/BMcC)