Tesco has been fined a total of £24,000 after a bakery worker was badly burned when hot oil from a doughnut machine dripped onto her feet.

The company admitted breaching health and safety regulations at its Ashby store, during a hearing before Hinckley magistrates.

The court heard that a metal container, which should have been in place to catch the dripping oil, was absent.

A spokeswoman for North West Leicestershire District Council commented: "If the correct equipment for undertaking tasks is not provided, this can lead to employees putting themselves at risk of injury, sometimes without realising it."

Tesco was fined £10,000 and ordered to pay £13,000 in costs. The company was also told to pay £1,000 compensation to the injured employee.