Firms fined over screen collapse

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A giant World Cup screen crashed to the ground in high winds

Two companies have been fined a total of more than £52,000 after a giant TV screen put up to show World Cup games in the centre of Birmingham collapsed.

The screen at Millennium Point blew over in strong winds in June 2006. No-one was hurt.

The Health and Safety Executive took Media Control UK Ltd and Trapeze Rigging Ltd to court.

Both companies pleaded guilty to failing to protect the public and were fined at Birmingham Crown Court.

Fan park

Media Control UK Ltd also pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to protect its employees.

The firm was made to pay a fine of £28,000 plus legal costs.

Trapeze Rigging was fined a total of £24,000 plus costs.

The screen, measuring 20ft (6m) by 30ft (10m) had been set up so football fans could watch all the England games in the 2006 World Cup.

It had been one of Europe's biggest "fan parks" and people paid £3.50 for tickets to go and watch games on the screen.