A WEST Devon firm has been ordered to pay more than £4,600 in fines and costs after breaking health and safety at work legislation.

Vital Pet Products, of North Tawton, pleaded guilty to failing to train an employee to drive a fork-lift truck.

Nick Hill, prosecuting on behalf of West Devon Borough Council, told Exeter Magistrates last Wednesday that the offence came to light following an investigation by the council's environmental health officers.

They discovered that one of the North Tawton staff had received no training in how to drive a fork-lift truck but despite that he was driving one regularly while at work.

Mr Hill added: 'This posed a real risk to his fellow employees.'

In mitigation, Vital Pet Products said that they had changed their systems to ensure that proper training was now given to employees.

Magistrates fined the firm £2,000 and they were ordered to pay full costs of £2,633.