Gardner Gibson (Print) in Renfrew has been fined 10,000 by Paisley Sheriff Court after an apprentice lost the tops of two fingers in a Muller Martini saddlestitcher.

The company pleaded guilty to two breaches of health and safety legislation after Fraser Laurie, 19, caught his hand in the machine.

A Health & Safety Executive investigation showed that safeguards on the machine had been disengaged, no risk assessment had been carried out and no safety guidelines were in place. The machine has now been modified.

Gardner Gibson sales director Tom Dow said the firm, which has never had an accident before, has a strong health and safety policy. Laurie has returned to work after an operation to re-attach the tips of his fingers.