A WASTE company is to face prosecution after an 11-year-old boy plunged to his death in a former quarry.

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has announced it is prosecuting waste disposal firm Biffa, for an alleged breach of health and safety legislation after the accident at its landfill site at Houghton Quarry, Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside.

Gavin Reed, of Fountains Crescent, Houghton-le-Spring, died after falling 18 metres from an area known as Table Rock, in October 2001.

The HSE will prosecute on the grounds that the Buckinghamshire company did not do enough at the site to ensure that children were not exposed to danger.

HSE inspectors have visited Gavin's parents to inform them of their decision to bring a prosecution against Biffa Waste Services Ltd. A hearing date has been set for Friday, July 11 at Houghton Magistrates' Court.

The youngster was playing on the lip of the quarry with a friend, when he slipped and fell on to the concrete concourse below.

An inquest in Sunderland last February heard that an inspection after the accident revealed 29 places in the perimeter fence where people could gain access, and a well- used path leading to the quarry from nearby houses.

An Environment Agency inspection had approved the fence only three days before the accident.

Sunderland coroner Martin Shaw, recording a verdict of accidental death, said it was a matter of concern that the fence around the quarry, now a landfill site, had been allowed to fall into disrepair.

Since the tragedy, Biffa has improved the fence and introduced 24-hour security guards.

Berian Griffiths, Biffa's health and safety director, said: "We very much regret that this tragic situation occurred and have extended our sympathies to Gavin's family.

"We continue to try to prevent any unauthorised access to our site and following the coroner's inquest into this accident are surprised that the HSE have decided to prosecute. We are waiting to see the case against us."