A COMPANY which employed two North-East men who were killed on the A1 was yesterday ordered to pay a total of £18,000 for breaches of health and safety legislation.

John Corkin and Kevin Barker died in August 2000 when an Asda lorry ploughed into the back of their roadworks truck between Leeming and Catterick, in North Yorkshire.

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

At Richmond Magistrates' Court yesterday, barrister Sam Green, who was prosecuting Durham-based Traffic Management North East on behalf of the Health and Safety Executive, emphasised the firm was not being blamed for the two men's deaths.

Nevertheless, the company was still convicted of failing to adhere to site rules imposed by principal roadworks contractor, Cumbrian Industrials Limited, of Penrith, and was fined £2,500.

Another £10,000 fine was imposed for an offence of failing to ensure Mr Corkin and Mr Barker were properly supervised while working on the A1.

Traffic Management North East was also ordered to pay costs of £5,500.

Defence lawyer Simon Catterall claimed his case had been hampered by the failure of key witnesses to turn up in court.

The prosecution was unable to trace either the Traffic Management North East foreman supervising safety at the scene of the accident, or the man who had been driving the firm's roadworks truck which was hit by the Asda lorry.

Mr Green also admitted he had chosen not to summon the directors of Traffic Management North-East who were in charge when the accident happened, but who have subsequently left to set up a rival company.