A manslaughter charge against a Thanet businessman - following the death of a teenage employee - has been dropped by the Crown Prosecution Service.

Steven Adams, 43, of Fitzmary Avenue, Margate, had originally faced the accusation after Jarrad Swan, 18, from Ramsgate, died in a gas cylinder explosion.

The fatal blast happened on June 24 last year at Adams' business premises in Bath Road, Margate.

But today, prosecutor Alan Compton told Canterbury Crown Court that the manslaughter charge had been dropped.

Now Adams, a director of the company Adams Home Centre, faces four charges of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act. He has denied them all.

Adams' trial is due to start on January 6 and is expected to last five weeks.

He was given unconditional bail until his next court appearance on December 21 for a pre-trial review.

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