£5,000 compensation for thumb injury

Ian Castle was working for general haulage firm PA Dunwell Transport Ltd when the roof door of a lorry he was unloading crashed down on him, hitting his shoulder and trapping his thumb against a lever. "It ripped my thumb nail right off, broke the bone and ended up giving me nine stitches and to add insult to injury I had to go back to work before it was properly healed," said Mr Castle.

He was awarded 5,500 in personal injury compensation, after the GMB union took up the case.

Laura Hadfield, from Thompsons Solicitors, added: "Employers have a legal responsibility to provide safe work systems and to ensure their employees are properly trained. This settlement recognises that P A Dunwell Transport failed Ian."

The company declined to comment.