Stephen Grainger, an engineer who was married with two children, died 16 days after being engulfed by hot water as he replaced a seal on a pump in the main boiler house on 2 March 2002. An inquest at the end of last year recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The mills management pleaded guilty to one charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Section two, at Kendal Magistrates Court on 4 August. Magistrates imposed a fine of 15,000 and costs of 5,000 against the firm.

Finance director John Denman said the company deeply regretted Graingers death, and that it had co-operated fully with the HSEs accident investigation.