Timber firm Jennor Timber Ltd of Enfield, Middlesex, was fined £4,000 and ordered to pay costs after pleading guilty to breaking section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety etc at Work Act 1974.

Peter Brook was injured when cutting a length of wood on a machine that was not fitted with a guard.

An HSE spokesman said:

"It is essential that safe systems of work are adhered to and there should be management systems in place to monitor workers at all timber mills.

"Machine jigs should have been used with limited cutter projection tooling, which should be in place to prevent very severe injuries if any part of the body touches the rotating blade."