A Selby miner has been cleared of breaching safety rules at a pit where a fellow worker was killed.

John Alstead was manager of the Daw Mill colliery, near Coventry, in June 2006, when colleague Trevor Steeples, 46, was overcome by methane gas as he worked 2,300 feet (700 metres) underground.

Despite attempts by his fellow mineworkers to reach him and bring him to the surface, Mr Steeples died. Mr Alstead, 54, now of Barlby, Selby, who was the mine’s manager at the time of the death, stood trial at Sheffield Crown Court for more than three weeks, accused of breaching safety regulations.

On the orders of the judge, Mr Justice Macduff, the jury has now formally acquitted both him and Terence Davison, 53, of Edwinstowe, near Mansfield, Nottinghamshire. Both had denied the charges.

Mr Davison used to be assistant undermanager at the pit and had particular responsibilities for the district of the mine where the accident happened.

Mr Steeples was a foreman, or deputy, at the pit and had worked in the mining industry for many years.

Daw Mill is one of the last deep coal mines still working in England. UK Coal, which owns and runs the pit, has already admitted safety breaches in relation to the death of Mr Steeples.

The firm has also admitted breaches in relation to the deaths of three other miners, two of whom also died at Daw Mill.

UK Coal is expected to be sentenced later this year.