Service for Legionnaires' victims

Seven people died after being exposed to the bacteria

The victims of Britain's worst ever fatal outbreak of Legionnaires' disease are to be remembered during a special service in Barrow, Cumbria.

Seven people died and 200 were taken ill during the outbreak in August 2002.

Last month the criminal investigation into the case ended when Barrow Council and its design manager Gill Beckingham were fined for their mistakes.

They had failed to maintain the council air conditioning unit. The service is at St George's Church on 17 September.

St George's Canon Carol Farrer said the service was not a memorial service, but to remember all those who had suffered.

She said: "We were approached by some members of families affected and decided to hold the service."

'No training'

During the outbreak health experts traced the suspected source to the air conditioning system at the Barrow Borough Council-run Forum 28 arts complex.

The unit was shut down because it had been emitting steam into the street. It meant people in the building were not necessarily at risk, but those passing in an alleyway outside were exposed.

Those who died were Richard Macauley, 88; Wendy Milburn, 56; Georgina Somerville, 54; Harriet Low, 74; Christine Merewood, 55; Elizabeth Dixon, 80; and June Miles 56.

Beckingham told Preston Crown Court that her job as senior architect at Barrow Borough Council mainly concerned the design of local housing projects and that she had received no health and safety training.