Robert Wiseman Dairies pleaded guilty to breaching safety laws at its plant in Droitwich after Cecylia Kolanowska lost the top off three fingers.

The firm was also ordered to pay �6,266 in costs in the case, brought by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

Ms Kolanowska was using a machine that labels milk bottles at the time, magistrates in Redditch heard.

An investigation by the HSE found that the automatic guards on the machine, which protected workers from its blades, had been over-ridden.

The accident happened in April 2006.

A spokesman for Robert Wiseman Dairies said it "very much regretted" the incident and was working closely with the HSE to ensure similar accidents could not happen.

The spokesman said: "In practical terms, we have changed working practices and introduced measures to ensure that automatic safety guards cannot now be over-ridden."