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Two food company bosses and their firm were yesterday fined a total of pounds 26,000 for employing children, some as young as 10. Director Sumitra Barot and Ramnk Modi, the manager, were fined after a judge heard that the firm, MTL Foods of Corby, Northamptonshire, paid some children as little as pounds 2.50 for six hours' work. Others were given chocolates instead of cash, Northampton Crown Court heard.

Parents were led to believe that their children were being given Indian dancing lessons at the MTL factory. In reality they were set to work packing spices. The Health and Safety Executive, which mounted the prosecution, said some children had cut themselves using knives. Others had worked near a high temperature machine. Judge Francis Allen imposed a pounds 14,000 fine on the firm, which is no longer trading. Mr Barot was ordered to pay a total of pounds 4,500 and Mr Modi pounds 7,500.