A COUNCIL and two taxi operators have pleaded guilty to failing to ensure the safety of the public - more than two years after a pensioner was killed in an accident.

James Hunt, 85, died of brain damage after his motorised scooter fell off the back of a taxi in Hartlepool, in January 2005.

After the accident, there was an investigation by Cleveland Police and the Health and Safety Executive.

Finally yesterday, Hartlepool Borough Council, and taxi operators Ian Cameron, of Wynyard Road, Wolviston, and Gerald Nicholson, of Blakelock Road, Hartlepool, admitted their guilt at a hearing at Hartlepool Magistrates' Court.

The charge - of failing in the duty to do as much as is reasonably possible to ensure the safety of persons not in their employment - was put to the three parties at a short hearing. The case was adjourned until June 26.

Mr Hunt, from Seaton Carew, near Hartlepool, was getting into a minibus taxi via a tailgate when his scooter fell off.

At the inquest into his death, the coroner heard that he had reversed the scooter onto the lift but failed to brake. There was a stop plate to prevent an accident of this nature, but that was damaged and part of the safety device was mis-aligned. The inquest heard that a fully-working stop plate could resist a force of 280kg, while the one in the accident had failed at 16kg of force.

Mr Hunt fell about two-and-a-half metres and his scooter fell on top of him. He died six hours later.

The minibus was operated by Hartlepool Borough Councils' Dial-a-Ride and the council had contracted Cameron's Taxis to run the service, and Mr Nicholson had been sub contracted by Mr Cameron.

After yesterday's hearing, Dr David Swallow, of the Heath and Safety Executive, said: "We are satisfied that guilty pleas have been entered and we have avoided the need for a five-day trial.

"The family have been extremely distressed by the loss of their father in this terrible accident."