A company boss charged with manslaughter more than five years after four workers died in the Bosley Mill explosion is beginning his trial this week. George Boden, Director of Wood Treatment Ltd, will appear at Chester Nightingale Court after pleading not guilty to four charges of gross negligence manslaughter.

The 64-year-old also denied a charge under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act, as did managers Philip Smith and Peter Shingler. The firm has also been accused of four counts of corporate manslaughter and a health and safety charge, which were also denied.

The blast at Wood Flour Mills in Bosley, Cheshire, saw a four-storey building destroyed, which killed four workers after a fire broke out at the mill. William Barks, Dorothy Bailey, Jason Shingler and Derek Moore were all killed.

Around 35 other people were assessed by paramedics following the incident, which happened shortly after 9am on 17 July 2015.