THE manager on trial for manslaughter following the deaths of two workers at the Blackmoor Estate has told Winchester Crown Court that he was "negligent".

The court had previously heard that Andrew Stocker, 57, is alleged to have "encouraged" a practice known on site as "scuba diving", which would see staff hold their breath while entering an apple-storage container with an atmosphere of one percent oxygen.

Mr Stocker, from Whitehill, denies two counts of manslaughter.

Scott Cain, 23, and Ashley Clarke, 24, died after being found unconscious on top of crates in an apple store at Blackmoor Estate on February 18, 2013.

For full story, see this week's Petersfield Herald.