THE organisers of a country show have been fined £100,000 for health and safety failings after the death of a three-year-old boy.

Ben Craggs, from Sedgefield, County Durham, died after a concrete bollard fell on him at Scotland’s Royal Highland Show in 2008.

At the end of a 13-day trial at Edinburgh Sheriff Court the jury found The Royal Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland, which runs the event at Ingliston, guilty on one allegation under the Health and Safety at Work Act.

The society was convicted of failing to ensure that moveable concrete bollards in a show car park were provided and maintained in a condition and connected in a manner which did not present a risk of overturning. It was found not guilty on a second charge.

Sheriff Paul Arthurson fined the Society £100,000 and allowed 28 days for payment.

He expressed public sympathy to Ben's parents, Jonathan and Dawn, for the death of their son.

Ben, who was only six days away from his fourth birthday and looking forward to starting Sedgefield Primary School later that summer, was at the show with his parents who were exhibiting cattle.

On June 19, the first day of the show, Mr Craggs went to his lorry which was parked in the north car park to collect his white show jacket. He lifted Ben up to collect it then put him down to lock the cabin door.

Ben had been out of his sight for only two or three seconds before he heard a man shouting that a boy had fallen.

Earlier in the trial, Mr Craggs told the court he ran over and found his son laid on the ground with a bollard on his head and blood coming from nose and ears.

He told the jury: "I kept asking 'Ben, don't go Ben. Don't leave with us. Keep with us.'"

Ben was taken to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children, in Edinburgh, where he was pronounced dead.

The court also heard from farmer Stephen Crawford that the bollard was unstable and the rope was not tight and construction industry safety expert Peter Cheesman said it was in poor condition.

The Society originally faced eight charges under the Health and Safety at Work Act but six were dropped during proceedings.