A construction company in Bulgaria has been fined after a member of the public reported unsafe working practices during the development of an adventure course in Markeaton Park, Derby.

Walltopia of Bulgaria Boulevard, Letnitsa, was fined £500,000 and ordered to pay costs of £8,013.25 after pleading guilty to breaching Regulation 4(1) of the Work at Height Regulations 2005.

Derby Magistrates' Court heard how a passing member of the public noticed work at height being carried out from a pallet on the forks of a telehandler at the site in Markeaton Park, where a high ropes adventure course was being constructed by Bulgarian-based firm Walltopia.

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The member of the public first reported this to the company but despite receiving assurances the matter would be dealt with, unsafe work at height continued. They then reported it to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

HSE's investigation at the site found work was taking place on a section of roof 11 metres off the ground, without the use of any means to prevent two workers falling from the open edges. In addition, the workers were accessing the roof by climbing from the basket of a cherry picker.

(CD/JP)