A JURY cleared a former worker at a soft drinks firm of contaminating a production line by spitting.

As a precaution, the company dumped more than £4,000 of drinks after a security guard said a laid-off worker had told him he spat in the drink.

At Bolton Crown Court, John Lloyd, 34, of Kensington Drive, Leigh, admitted he was angry and upset about being laid-off but told the guard he wished he had contaminated the drink, not that he had done.

When the conversation was reported by the security guard, the Vimto production line was stopped, and all the products worked on at the time Lloyd was in the factory were thrown away.

Lloyd told the court he had been laid-off after he made a complaint against a supervisor, and because he had raised health and safety issues relating to temporary and permanent staff.

It was alleged he claimed he contaminated goods at the factory in order to cause the company economic loss. Lloyd had been told at the end of his shift that his services would not be needed.

He stormed off to the changing room, tore off his overalls and left the factory immediately.

As he passed the security lodge, he told the guard he had been laid off for no reason.

Security guard David Roberts said he clearly remembered Lloyd being angry and upset and that he said: "Can you make sure that Sharon Elliott is aware that I have spat in the tins?"

Mr Roberts immediately contacted the factory and the production line was stopped.

Lloyd said he did speak to the security guard but said:" I wish I had spat in the tins."