Chemring profits dented after fatal factory explosion

Defence firm Chemring saw a £17 million dent to profits last year after the factory explosion in August which left one man dead.

The fighter jet flares supplier said that underlying operating profits were flat at £31 million after taking into account the temporary factory closure.

Work will gradually be increased at the site this year, it added.

A 29-year old man died after an explosion at the flare mixing factory in Salisbury on August 10, named by local media as Piotr Zukowski.

The group, which has equipment on the Curiosity Mars rover programme, said revenue for the year ending 2018 was down by 3% to £297 million.

The order book rose to £394 million from £325 million.

New chief executive Michael Ord said he would carry on restructuring the group after the firm scrapped part of its energetics unit - which makes pyrotechnics for ejector seats - in November.

Ord was unable to present the results to the City in person due to an accident which has left him temporarily in hospital.