The director of a Bushey-based building firm, who was buried when the side of a trench collapsed on him, has been fined.

Paul Connolly, director of PNT Contractors, had to be rescued by workers, who dug him out by hand, after the excavation site he was working on collapsed on him. Mr Connolly was taken to hospital with a broken leg and ankle.

The incident, which happened at a site in Essex in July 2014, was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Mr Connolly and the company appeared at Southend Magistrates Court on Monday.

The court heard PNT Contractors Ltd, of Sparrows Herne, was carrying out extensive ground work at the site in Crays Hills, Bilericay. Mr Connolly had used an excavator to dig into the side of a slope, leaving unsupported excavation sides of up to 2.5 metres in height.

Mr Connolly and another employee were working in the sheer-faced excavation when it collapsed. The second worker managed to jump to safety but Mr Connolly was partially buried and trapped by the falling earth.

Following the incident, HSE served a prohibition notice stopping any work on the site until it was made safe.

PNT Contractors Ltd was fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,176 after admitting a breach of construction regulations.

Mr Connolly, of Lipton Street, Watford, was also fined £15,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,176 for a similar breach by being director of the company.

After the hearing, HSE inspector Adam Hills, said: "Paul Connolly not only endangered himself, but was reckless with the lives of his employees. Every year people are killed or seriously injured by collapsing trenches. The dangers here were obvious.

"A few simple and inexpensive precautions could have easily prevented this from occurring. To prevent a collapse you should shore, step, or batter back the sides. Do not assume ground will stand up unsupported."