A MAN is recovering in hospital with burns following an accident at a North-East mine.

The incident took place at Cleveland Potash Mine, the country's deepest underground mine, at Boulby, east Cleveland, on Monday, but details have only just emerged.

The mine company is refusing to give details about the victim or the circumstances of the accident, but Chris Gibson, personnel manager at the mine, confirmed that a contractor received serious electrical burns in the accident.

"He suffered bad burns to his face, arms, chest and neck areas, but is improving."

Mr Gibson said that the victim, a contractor for a maintenance company, had worked intermittently at the mine for the past five years.

At the time of the accident he was carrying out electrical repairs on a switch panel at the surface of the mine while it was closed for maintenance.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) spokesman said it was investigating the incident.

The mine, which has been operating for more than 25 years, has a chequered safety record as there have been several accidents in recent years.

Patrick Conway, from Redcar, east Cleveland, was injured in a gas explosion at the mine in 1985 and did not work again. Four years later he committed suicide. His widow blamed the accident for her husband's changed character.

In 1993, one man became entombed more than 1,000 metres down the mine due to a rock fall, and four others were seriously injured in a second rock fall while trying to rescue him.

In 1995, miner Robert Morgan was crushed to death under a slab of rock, while Trevor Jones needed part of his leg amputated in 1999 when he was crushed under a wall.

But Mr Gibson defended the company's safety standards and said: "Our safety record is very good and we have not had any problems at the mine in recent years. We did have one or two accidents but we have a very good record."

He said the company was now waiting for the HSE report on the latest incident.