A garage boss admitted there was no formal health and safety policy in place to protect his employees.

Glen Hawkins told Hove Crown Court there was no written policy because it was mainly a matter of common sense.

He said the use of machinery and equipment was explained to mechanics when they started at the Anchor Garage, Peacehaven.

Hawkins, 34, said this was passed on to trainees by the senior mechanics who supervised them.

He said: "I had no guidelines from the Health and Safety Executive, it was just common sense.

"We taught people how to use things safely and the mechanics passed that knowledge on to the trainees as they came up.

"They were monitored for the first five or six times they used the equipment so I would say that was health and safety training.

"If staff have any concerns about health and safety they speak to either me or my father about it."

Glen Hawkins manages the garage which is owned by his 71-year-old father Howard Hawkins, who is known to customers as John.

It is alleged that Glen Hawkins helped apprentice Lewis Murphy tip a mix of diesel and petrol drained from a car into a waste oil tank on February 19 last year.

Lewis was engulfed in flames after fumes were sucked into a boiler flu next to the tank, sparking an explosion.

The 18-year-old trainee suffered 60 per cent burns and died four days later from his injuries. Glen Hawkins also suffered burns to his legs and back, the court was told.

Tayo Adebayo, prosecuting, told him: "The allegation is that you put yourself and your employees at risk and that was grossly negligent."

Hawkins replied: "I did not drag that bin across the forecourt with Lewis. I did not do that, I was not there."

Glen Hawkins, of Chatsworth Park, Telscombe Cliffs, denies manslaughter and failing to to ensure the safety of himself and staff at the garage.

Howard Hawkins, of The Highway, Newhaven, denies failing to ensure the safety of his employees.

The trial continues.