A MoT test centre is to appear in court over alleged health and safety offences after a oil barrel exploded leaving a worker fighting for his life.

CVS (Anglia) Ltd, of Holywells Road, Ipswich, has been summonsed to South East Suffolk Magistrates Court to be charged with three offences.

The hearing is scheduled for tomorrow afternoon.

The company allegedly failed to discharge its duty to an employee under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

It is also accused of failing to make suitable and efficient assessment of risks.

The third alleged offence relates to a failure to provide adequate health and safety training.

The court case comes as a result of an explosion at CVS’ premises in Holywells Road, near Ipswich docks, on November 24 last year.

At the time a man, understood to be 23 years old, was working at the site when he sustained burns, along with head and chest injuries.

Police said they had received reports the barrel exploded as a man was working with a saw.

The Essex Air Ambulance was called to the MoT and vehicle repair centre shortly after 11am.

Holywells Road had to be sealed off between the junctions of Duke Street and Landseer Road in order for the helicopter to land.

The casualty was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

A spokeswoman for the air ambulance service said he had suffered life-threatening injuries.

The road was re-opened at around 12.50pm.

The man was treated in hospital, but was subsequently allowed home after his condition improved.

Ipswich Borough Council, as the enforcing authority for all vehicle repair centres, began an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident.

The council has now summonsed CVS (Anglia) Ltd to court.