Gantry death firms plead guilty

Four men died on the Avonmouth Bridge near Bristol

Two engineering firms have pleaded guilty to criminal charges arising from the deaths of four workmen who fell 80 feet from a motorway bridge.

They were killed when a gantry gave way under the Avonmouth Bridge near Bristol in September 1999.

The dead men were Ronnie Hill, 38, from Glasgow; Jeff Williams, 42, from Newport, south Wales; Paul Stewart, 23, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne and Andy Rodgers, 40, from Middlesbrough.

The Crown Prosecution Service decided last year not to pursue manslaughter charges.

Most of the gantry was left hanging below the bridge

Police had arrested nine people.

The case was handed back to the Health and Safety Executive - and on Friday, a brief hearing took place at Bristol Crown Court.

Yarm Road Ltd and Costain Ltd both admitted breaching health and safety laws.

Judge Lester Boothman adjourned the case so the companies could raise any major points of issue.

Yarm Road Ltd was formerly known as Kvaerner Cleveland Bridge Ltd.