Trial for sculpture death artist

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The creator of an inflatable artwork which flipped over and killed two women will stand trial in the New Year.

Artist Maurice Agis, 76, from east London, who conceived the Dreamspace sculpture, appeared before Newcastle Crown Court charged with manslaughter.

A promotions company and local council officials are also charged with breaching health and safety rules.

Thirteen people were hurt when the artwork lifted into the air in Chester-le-Street in July 2006.

The charges followed a lengthy police investigation into the tragedy in which Claire Furmedge, 38, from Chester-le-Street and 68-year-old Elizabeth Collings, from Seaham, died.

The plastic inflatable flipped into the air on a hot afternoon when Chester-le-Street's Riverside Park was busy with visitors.

Two women died when the artwork lifted into the airAgis, of Bethnal Green, also faced a charge under the Health and Safety at Work Act when he appeared at Newcastle Crown Court on Friday.

The Liverpool-based promotions company Brouhaha International Limited has been charged with breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, as is Chester-le-Street District Council.

The council's director of development services Tony Galloway, 48, has been charged with a separate breach of the act.

No pleas were entered and a trial will take place in January before a High Court Judge.

Inflated by large fans, the panelled 50m x 50m PVC structure was big enough for people to enter and explore its confines, experiencing changing colours and sounds.

Dreamspace received £60,000 from the Arts Council for a UK tour.