Charges have been brought against Maurice Agis, 76, following the tragedy at Riverside Park in Chester-le-Street in July 2006 when his Dreamscape inflatable sculpture became airborne.

Two women died in the accident, while a further 27 were injured.

The London-based artist answered police bail at Charing Cross police station in the capital yesterday, and was charged with gross negligence manslaughter.

He will also face a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
Chester-le-Street District Council, the council's director of development services, Tony Galloway, and Liverpool-based promotions company Brouhaha International have also been charged with breaches of the Health and Safety at Work Act.

All have been summoned to appear before Peterlee Magistrates' Court on February 26.

Mum-of-two Claire Furmedge, 38, from Chester-le-Street, and Seaham woman Elizabeth Anne Collings, 68, died in the accident.

A spokesman for Durham Police said: "These proceedings follow a lengthy investigation by Durham Constabulary and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE).

"The Crown Prosecution Service's special crime division has been advising the police and the HSE during the investigation.

"The families of those killed and the people injured have been informed of developments."

A spokesman for Chester-le-Street District Council said: "The council has co-operated fully with both the HSE and police investigations.

"We are not in a position to make any further comment on the conclusions at this stage."

About 30 people were inside Dreamspace when it was blown away, and only the fact it became tangled on a pole stopped it from drifting into the River Wear.
T
he sculpture was designed with huge PVC sheets, forming tunnels inside which visitors walked through.