Workers in the North are twice as likely to die at work than staff in other UK regions because of a high accident rate, a new report revealed today.

Two restaurants in the North were ordered to close tonight by health officials inspecting gas appliances around the area where two teenage friends died from carbon monoxide poisoning.

The gas fitter at the centre of an investigation into the fatal poisoning of two teenage friends in a holiday apartment today pledged to co-operate with the authorities.

The number of workplace injuries in the North has fallen by 20% in the past five years, it was revealed today.