THE firm that employed the two men who were killed on the A1 has been fined a total of £18,000 for breaching health and safety rules.

Traffic Management North East was prosecuted on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive at Richmond Magistrates Court last week following the deaths of John Corkin and Kevin Barker in August 2000.

The men were killed when an Asda lorry ploughed into the back of their roadworks truck between Leeming and Catterick.

In April, HGV driver Brian Smith from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, was sent to prison for two years after he was convicted of causing death by dangerous driving.

But on Thursday Traffic Management North East was convicted of failing to adhere to site rules imposed by principal contractor, Cumbrian Industrials Ltd of Penrith and fined £2,500.

Another £10,000 fine was imposed for an offence of failing to ensure Mr Corkin and Mr Barker were properly supervised.

The firm was also ordered to pay £5,500 costs.

Prosecuting barrister Sam Green said Traffic Management North East was not being blamed for the two men's deaths. Defence lawyer Simon Catterall claimed his case had been hampered by the failure of key witnesses to turn up in court. Neither Traffic Management North East's foreman or the man who had been driving the firm's truck could be traced.

Mr Green had also chosen not to summon the firm's directors who were in charge when the accident happened, but who have since left to set up a new company.

Mr Catterall said that left current finance director Gary Smith at a disadvantage. In the witness box he only had documentary evidence from the company's files to rely on when defending the firm.

Magistrates decided there was insufficient evidence to continue with a charge that Traffic Management North East had failed to provide Mr Corkin and Mr Barker with adequate health and safety training.

However, they decided the company remained responsible for serious breaches of health and safety law.