Halfords has been fined £600,000 after an employee was killed by a vehicle while carrying out a roadside repair.

Niall Fawcett, from Talke, Staffordshire, died on a slip road at junction 7 of the M56 near Bowdon, Cheshire, on 2 August, 2024.

The 21-year-old suffered fatal head injuries when the vehicle he had been working on slipped from a hydraulic lifting tool and landed on him.

A Health and Safety Executive (HSE) investigation found Halfords had failed to properly assess the risks of replacing a blown-out tyre on a low-profile truck.

A spokesperson for Halfords described Fawcett's death as a "tragic incident" and said "the health of safety of our colleagues is our highest priority".

HSE's investigation also found the company, based in Redditch, Worcestershire, had failed to give employees suitable work instructions, including information on when a truck should be recovered rather than repaired at the roadside.

Fawcett had only obtained his licence to work on commercial tyres at the roadside when he joined the company less than four months before his death, the HSE investigation found.

Despite this, he had not been subject to any monitoring or supervision to ensure that he was working safely, HSE said.

Fawcett's mother, Sharon, said her son "had his whole life ahead of him".

"He was planning to marry the following year, and he and Megan were saving for a deposit on their first home together and talking about starting a family," she said.

"Niall was building for a life he was excited for and this was taken from him in an instant.

"Niall went to work that day and should have been safe, supported and protected. Instead, my son never came home."

Following a hearing at Warrington Magistrates' Court on Monday, Halfords was fined £600,000 and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £200 and £24,203 in costs.

HSE principal inspector Laura Royales said the case "should serve to highlight to employers the importance of properly assessing the risks".

A spokesperson for Halfords said the company extended its "deepest sympathies to Mr Fawcett's family" and that it had co-operated fully with the HSE throughout its investigation.

"The health and safety of our colleagues is our highest priority, and we are committed to continually reviewing and strengthening our approach," said the spokesperson.

"Both prior to, and since the incident in 2024, we have invested in continuously improving our health and safety culture.

"More recently we have adopted industry-leading standards, delivered comprehensive training for colleagues, and undertaken detailed risk assessments to identify and address potential hazards."

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