THE family of a man who died in a vat of paint at Southampton's Ford plant launch their battle for justice tomorrow.

Motor company bosses were fined a total of £300,000 following the death of Christopher Shute, 30, more than four years ago.

Ford admitted breaching two health and safety matters during a court case last year.

His family is now taking civil action for damages against Phillips Services, which employed Mr Shute, at Southampton County Court.

Managers Peter Preston, 51, of Rowen Park, Blackburn, and Paul McKenzie, 55, of Beechwood Avenue, Hartford, Cheshire, pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of an employee.

They were each fined £5,000 and a manslaughter charge was dropped.

An inquest returned a verdict of unlawful killing but the Crown Prosecution Service has since ruled out re-opening manslaughter charges.

Anne Gundry, 37, from Millbrook, the older sister of Mr Shute, said: "We were really hoping we would not have to go back and go through so much again.

"The inquest was an ordeal in itself and you never get over something like this.

"This will bring everything back for the family again.

"We were devastated when we heard that the manslaughter charges would not be re-opened.

"This will be as far as we can go now."

Southampton Crown Court was told last year how it had been impossible for Mr Shute to escape from the vat of paint at the plant in Swaythling because the inside was so slippery.

The technical troubleshooter, who was unmarried and lived in Winchester Road, Shirley, fell in after being called on to inspect a problem.