Factory worker Martin Casey, who lost a finger in a workplace accident, has been allowed to keep 119,000 in damages after a six-year legal battle, writes Madeleine Pennell.

Mr Casey, 46, of Deacon Way, Banbury, fought off an Appeal Court bid by his former employers Morane Ltd, of Hazelmere Way, Banbury, to strip him of most of the money awarded to him because of the accident.

Mr Casey said: "It is just a great relief to me to know I have not lost any money. I am going to pay off my mortgage now."

He suffered agonising pain after his finger was caught in a machine's rollers as he attempted to clean it while it was still running in March 1994.

He said he was given a new job after his accident and was assured he would not lose any income. But his wages fell by 30 per cent.

Lamination company Morane, where he worked until last December, blamed him for not stopping the machine. Morane claimed he was 85 per cent responsible for the accident, but in 1998 an Oxford County Court judge ordered the company to pay Mr Casey 119,000 damages about 80 per cent for loss of earnings.

Morane claimed Mr Casey should not have been awarded a penny, but the appeal was dismissed. Neil Shillingford, managing director of Morane, said: "It is all behind us now.