A construction company has been fined £10,000 with over £6,600 in costs after a toddler managed to wander onto a building site.

360 Property was the principal contractor for a new build housing development at Oak Road in Blaina, Wales.

The site was served an improvement notice after security issues were not addressed, despite a previous visit from a Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector who highlighted concerns.

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Newport Magistrates' Court heard on 20 August how between 22 January and 10 June 2015, the site was inadequately secured.

On 21 May, a two-year-old child gained access to the site and was riding his bike when he fell into a drain, of which the cover had been removed.

The child was shaken but not injured.

360 Property pleaded guilty to two offences under Section 27(2) of the Construction (Design and Management) Regulations 2007 and Section 18(2) of the Construction (Design & Management) Regulations 2015, effectively one offence split by the change in regulations.

HSE Inspector David Kirkpatrick said: "It is absolutely imperative that construction companies adequately secure their construction sites to prevent unauthorised access. Construction sites can contain hazards that children and vulnerable people may not fully appreciate."

(LM)