Avonmouth bridge collapse inquest opens

An inquest into the Avonmouth Bridge collapse is due to open today (Monday) at the Guildhall in Bristol.

Four workers died when they fell 80ft from a motorway bridge after their gantry collapsed in high-winds on 8 September 1999.

The gantry had not been attached correctly to the bridge and the workers had been trying to move it when one of its runners came loose, throwing them into a car compound below.

Families of the four men: Ronnie Hill, 39, from Glasgow; Jeff Williams, 42, from Newport; Paul Stewart, 24, from Newcastle-upon-Tyne; and Andy Rodgers, 40, from Middlesbrough were awarded £1.3m compensation in April.

Both Yarm Road Ltd, formerly known as Kvaerner Cleveland Bridge, and Costain pleaded guilty to health and safety breaches in connection with the incident.

Paul Forrest, the coroner for the county of Avon, initially decided not to hold an inquest, but Stewart's father took legal action to force one to take place.

A decision on the inquest is due within seven days.