A FACTORY worker has won a payout of more than £100,000 after an accident at work cost him his left hand.

Father-of-three Paul Norris, 37, suffered horrific injuries when his hand became trapped between unguarded machine rollers at a Tadcaster paper mill.

Speaking at his home, in Newton Kyme, today, he said he was happy with the six-figure payout, agreed between his solicitor and former employers on the steps of York County Court.

But he added: "No amount of money will ever compensate me for a hand that can never be repaired. It has left me with depression and I have nightmares and flashbacks. I don't go out half as much as I used to do because I feel embarrassed."

Mr Norris was cleaning a roller at the Stora Newton Kyme Ltd factory on January 8, 1998, when the roller dragged his left hand through a quarter-inch gap.

Although he managed to free his crushed hand and save his thumb, surgeons were forced to amputate two of his fingers.

What remained of his other two fingers was covered with a flap of skin from Mr Norris's groin, leaving his hand little more than a useless stump.

He said he had undergone five operations on his mutilated hand and up until a few months ago was still on anti-depressant medication.

Mr Norris said his disability prevented him from pursuing his hobbies of riding scrambler bikes, gardening and DIY.

He said: "I can't even hammer a nail into a wall. My wife has to cut my food up and button up my shirts."

Mr Norris said the reaction from strangers was very difficult to cope with.

"I went to the newsagent's the other week. I put my injured hand out for the change and when the shop assistant noticed it she dropped the money."

The company was prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive and fined £10,000 by Selby magistrates.

The firm closed earlier this year and Mr Norris was made redundant. He says his chances of finding another job are very slim.

He said: "I'm still angry because it was a traumatic accident that could have been avoided and which has left me unable to do the job for which I'm trained."

Updated: 14:46 Thursday, October 25, 2001