THE organisers of an agricultural show where a North-East boy was killed face trial over alleged health and safety breaches.

Ben Craggs died after he was hit by a concrete bollard which overturned in a car park at the Royal Highland Show, in Edinburgh, in June 2008.

Six years on The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, which stages the event, is accused of a series of health and safety breaches which it has denied.

Appearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court earlier this week, Peter Gray QC, representing the Society, pleaded not guilty to the eight charges.

The case involved incidents between October 2005 and November 2009, including that which claimed the three-year-old’s life.

It is alleged that the Society failed to ensure that moveable concrete bollards at the Ingliston Showground were stabilised by clamping or otherwise as was necessary for the purposes of health and safety.

The charge said that on Thursday, June 19, the youngster fell and grabbed a rope connecting two of the bollards, which caused one to overturn and strike him on the head causing fatal injuries.

Ben and his parents, Jonathan and Dawn, were at the opening day of the Royal Highland Show to exhibit livestock from their farm on the edge of Sedgefield, County Durham.

After the incident, Ben was taken by ambulance to the city’s Royal Hospital for Sick Children, but doctors were unable to save him and died from his injuries a short time later.

He had been looking forward to starting primary school that summer.

The trial in Edinburgh is due to begin on Monday, November 17, before Sheriff Paul Arthurson and is expected to last four weeks.

The Royal Highland Show attracts about 150,000 visitors each year and is regarded as Scotland's top agricultural show.