A FATHER and son have been fined £16,000 each after a rambler fell chest-deep into a slurry pit on their land.

John Newell, aged 55, and his son Richard, of Upper Smite Farm, Hindlip, Worcester, admitted they had ignored a requirement to cover up the slurry pit, failed to ensure the safety of employees working in the vicinity, or to ensure that members of the public were not exposed to risks from the pit.

Worcester Magistrates Court heard that in December 2000, rambler Barrie Dobson, of Shrawley Road, Fernhill Heath, was walking along a path when some building debris blocked his route.

He was forced to walk around it, and he fell into the lagoon.

His companion ran to get help from the builders on the farm, who used a JCB digger to rescue him.

Graham Morgan, defending, said the Newells had had to destroy their dairy herd during the foot-and-mouth epidemic and after suffering financial losses in 2001 and 2002, had had only made a modest profit in 2003.

John and Richard Newell - who live in Foxwalks Farm, Grafton Lane - were fined and ordered to pay costs of £3,002.62 each.

After the court case, Mr Dobson said he was absolutely delighted with the news and added that he would not be claiming compensation.

"They deserve everything they get," said Mr Dobson. "It is about time the farming community in general took their responsibilities to the public much more seriously.

"There is far too much obstruction on the public rights of way."

Alastair Mitchell, an inspector with the Health and Safety Executive said they were very pleased with the level of fine imposed.

"It shows that the magistrates consider this to be a serious case," said Mitchell.

"The hazards of slurry lagoons are well known in the farming industry and it is essential farmers take precautions so that workers and members of the public are protected from falling in."