A CRICKET club has accepted responsibility for an accident which left three fans injured when part of a stand collapsed.

One person was seriously hurt when she fell around 12 feet to the ground after a hole appeared in the stands at the T20 cricket match between England and the West Indies in September 2017.

Three club officials, including the chief operating officer, were cleared of any wrongdoing when the case came before Teesside Crown Court yesterday.

An investigation was launched by the local authority following the accident at the north stand of Durham County Cricket Club's Chester-le-Street home ground.

Initially, the club and staff were facing eight breaches of health and safety regulations following an investigation by Durham County Council into the circumstances surrounding the stand collapse.

The Northern Echo: A steward standing over the hole that appeared in the stands. Picture: @ChristianCeriso/PAA steward standing over the hole that appeared in the stands. Picture: @ChristianCeriso/PA

Following the incident, the woman was taken by ambulance to the RVI in Newcastle where she was treated for ‘non-life-threatening injuries’.

Richard Dowson, the club's chief operating officer, Peter Stoddart, the head of security, and Alan Harrison, all entered not guilty pleas to their charges for breaching health and safety regulations.

And Judge Howard Crowson formally entered not guilty verdicts after the prosecution offered no evidence.

Simon Antrobus QC pleaded guilty on behalf of the cricket club to a charge of failing to ensure the health and safety of spectators and people not in its employment. Two other charges against the club were dropped.

Jamie Hill QC, prosecuting, said the sentencing hearing would last for two hours.

Judge Crowson adjourned the case until November 12 for sentence.

He said: Not guilty verdicts in relation to each of the individuals, I appreciate applications could be made for defendants' cost orders and need to be consider more carefully before a decision can be made on that."

Police and stewards evacuated around 200 fans from the stand, which was put up in 2013 before the Ashes Test in August that year.

Previously, it had been used to seat spectators at the beach volleyball competition on Horse Guards Parade during the 2012 Olympic Games.

Pictures on social media had showed part of the floor had collapsed as fans watched the international game at the Emirates Riverside ground.

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