A maintenance contractor from Perth has been ordered to pay £155,000 after a man drowned as a result of falling into a water-filled sump at a power station in North Wales.

The man was working to remove sludge and debris from the flue accessories of a cooling tower, and an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) discovered that he was operating in poorly-lit conditions.

HSE principal inspector Colin Mew said: "This incident was entirely foreseeable and yet it was still allowed to happen. Epsco Ltd would have known Mr Benn or one of his colleagues would need to approach the sump in the course of their work."

Mr Mew remarked that the inherent risk of working in the conditions should have been obvious to any diligent employer.

He also explained that the company failed to put a safe system of work into place.