SUPERMARKET Asda has been fined £15,000 for leaving in place a parking ticket machine that had sliced off a ten-year-old boy's fingertip.

The fine was handed out at St Helens Magistrates' Court following an investigation by environmental health officers following the accident in September.

Officers had been alerted by the boy's mother who was concerned when she discovered the dangerous machine was still in use three days after her son sustained the injury at the Kirkland Street store car park.

Asda pleaded guilty to charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act and accident reporting regulations.

The supermarket chain failed to take the machine out of use once they had been made aware of the accident and did not report the incident to the council within a suitable time period.

Councillor Terry Shields, executive member for environmental protection, said: "All companies in the town have a duty to ensure the safety of people who visit and use their premises. Sadly in this instance Asda failed to take necessary action after they were made aware of the serious accident on their premises.

"As part of this investigation all the parking ticket machines on the car park were checked by an engineer and all necessary works were completed to the satisfaction on the environmental health officer."

An Asda spokeswoman said: "It is absolutely our policy that any defective equipment be put out of use immediately. We are very sorry on this occasion this did not happen as quickly as possible."