TWO companies have been fined a total of £11,500 after they admitted breaching safety laws that led to the collapse of scaffolding.

Swale Scaffolding and Castles Interiors pleaded guilty to three offences at Durham Magistrates' Court yesterday.

The court heard a poorly fastened temporary roof blew off a building and poorly secured scaffolding collapsed in Middle Street, Consett, in the early hours of February 10.

Rob Hirst, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, said: "Luckily, no one was hurt.

"If it happened later, it would have fallen in a pedestrian precinct during an open market."

Shopfitting firm Castles Interiors, of Cleckheaton, West Yorkshire, was refurbishing Britannia building society quarters at the time, and had been asked to carry out some external work as well.

It was overseeing the scheme, and admitted failing to ensure people's safety was not put at risk and failing to ensure that working platforms were inspected by a competent person everyweek.

The firm's director, Eddie Suchomski, said: "We are not construction specialists, but we took the job on.

"It may be that it was not suited for us, but we thought we had employed a competent scaffolding company.

"I thank my lucky stars no one got injured and can only apologise for what happened."

Castle Interiors was find a total of £6,500 and ordered to pay £1,988.

Richmond-based Swale Scaffolding, which was contracted to do the work, admitted failing to ensure people's safety was not put at risk and was fined £5,000 and ordered to pay £1,988 costs.

Commercial director Paul Ward said: "Specific areas of our business have required reappraisal since this incident. But we should not be deemed to be a company that fragrantly flouts the health and safety law - and everybody make mistakes.

"We formally apologise to all parties concerned regarding our failings."

The company has now employed a trained health and safety worker to check regulations are being met at ongoing works.

Chairman of the bench William Stoddart said: "We have taken into account your guilty pleas and the fact you have taken steps so that this will never happen again.

"Luckily, no one was hurt. However, we cannot ignore serious health and safety failings which could have put the public in danger."

The firms have 28 days to pay their fines.