A COMPANY director from Blackburn has made a second appearance in court charged with unlawfully killing an employee by gross negligence.

Peter Preston, of Rowen Park, Blackburn appeared before magistrates accused of causing the death of Christopher Shute who fell into a vat of paint at a car factory.

Preston, 50, and Paul McKenzie, 53, were accused after the 30-year-old factory worker died when he slipped into a giant vat of paint at the Ford paint shop factory in Southampton, Hants.

The pair were allegedly responsible for safety at the workshop. Magistrates at Southampton sent the case for a preliminary hearing at Winchester Crown Court.

Preston and McKenzie, who lives at Beechwood Avenue, Hartford, Cheshire, will face trial at the Crown Court on Monday.

Emergency crews had raced to the factory in Southampton after Mr Shute plunged into the paint vat but he was later pronounced dead at hospital.

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

A spokesman said: "The Health and Safety Executive is also taking legal action against three companies concerning the incident."

An 18-month joint investigation by Hampshire Police and the Health and Safety Executive, led to the arrests of two directors.

Both men were granted by bail.