THE owners of Europe’s biggest power station were accused in court today of endangering their workers’ health through the inhalation of noxious dust.

Drax power station in Yorkshire was investigated by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) after workers reported being affected by dust from the biomass fuel burned at the power station after phasing out coal.

Drax Power Ltd appeared in Leeds Magistrates’ Court facing charges under health and safety and control of hazardous substances regulations.

The HSE said it investigated Drax after five workers reported ill-effects after being exposed to dust from wood pellets Drax imports from the US. The first report was made in October 2015.

Drax, which employs around 900 workers, pleaded not guilty and was committed to appear at Leeds Crown Court.

Climate justice campaigners staged a protest outside the court, accusing the company of “green-washing” its environmental performance, and in support of the station’s workers.

The protest was staged by “Axe Drax” campaigners, who said that the station’s activities jeopardised surrounding communities as well as the workforce.

The campaign says Drax is the UK’s single biggest carbon emitter, releasing over 13 million tonnes of CO₂ last year.

Drax is also the largest wood-burning power station in the world, fuelled by around seven million tonnes of pellets every year, the equivalent of about 25 million trees, the campaign says.

Axe Drax campaigner Joe Irving said: “Drax is literally burning away some of our last hopes of ensuring that we have a liveable planet.

“With three-to-four years left to avert this crisis, we can’t afford to be burning forests.”

A Drax spokesperson said: “Drax has pleaded not guilty in the case brought by the health and safety executive relating to wood dust at Drax Power Station. The health, safety and wellbeing of our colleagues is Drax’s priority. As this legal case is ongoing, we cannot provide any further information.”