Warrington Crown Court fined  Grundy and Co Excavations £100,000 and ordered the firm to pay £9.034 costs after Joshua Beswick died on the 1 September 2004 while walking across the company's yard at Ditton Road, Widnes.

The 20-year-old labourer was killed instantly when he was struck by a wheeled loader.

HSE inspector John McGrellis said: "Where vehicles and pedestrians use the same routes they should be separated, with appropriate crossing points clearly marked and signposted where necessary.

"People being hit by vehicles, people falling from vehicles, objects falling from vehicles onto people and vehicles toppling over in the workplace are a common cause of accidents which has been identified as a priority by the HSE.

"This case graphically illustrates that companies should ensure that safe working systems are in place for the safety of all their employees."