A BUTCHER accused of sparking an outbreak of E.coli food poisoning has told a jury that his own son was one of the victims.

Preston Crown Court has heard allegations that the outbreak resulted from a contamination of raw and cooked meats at the premises in the Kwiksave supermarket at Eccleston.

A number of people are said to have been infected, many of whom were admitted to hospital.

Shop owner Paul Harman, 38, denies breaching food safety regulations in November 2001.

John Barrett, prosecuting, has described E.coli 157 as a serious form of food poisoning.

He said that an investigation found the infection present on lab examination of swabs taken from the butchers.

Mr Harman told the jury he had been involved in the trade since leaving school.

Questioned by defence counsel Steve Swift, Mr Harman said he contacted Chorley Council to get his shop checked and have samples taken after he found out his son had E-coli.

"I could see that my son was deteriorating and I just wanted to make sure that my shop was all right," he said.

When told about the swabs, he said he was "absolutely devastated" and he did not understand how it happened.

He said his son ended up in the Royal Manchester Children's Hospital, Pendlebury, on kidney dialysis and he had a blood transfusion.

Mr Harman said his son did not eat cooked meats, and there had been no concerns over his other shop at Prestwich, Manchester, which remained open.

Cross examined, he said the shop at Kwik Save was maintained to the highest hygiene standard.

(Proceeding)