BEREAVED relatives of four men killed when they fell from a motorway bridge have been awarded £1.3m compensation between them by the firms responsible for the tragedy.

A judge at Bristol Crown Court approved the deal involving Darlington engineering group Kvaerner Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd, now known as Yarm Road Ltd, and Costain Ltd.

Paul Stewart, 23, from Newcastle, Andrew Rodgers, 40, from Middlesbrough, Ronald Hill, 39, from Glasgow, and Jeff Williams, 42, from Newport, south Wales, died when they fell 80ft from a gantry while carrying out strengthening work to the M5 Avonmouth bridge near Bristol in September 1999.

Kvaerner Cleveland Bridge UK Ltd and Costain Ltd were prosecuted under health and safety legislation and were fined £500,000 in December 2001 after pleading guilty to breaches of health and safety regulations. It was one of the largest fines ever imposed under health and safety legislation.

Further legal proceedings were started by the men's trade union, the GMB, on behalf of the families for compensation.

The terms of the £1,372,500 settlement were agreed at the settlement hearing held in private yesterday.

The families of Andrew Rodgers and Paul Stewart said they did not wish to comment on the compensation claims.

Solicitor Brian Freeman, of Browell Smith and Co in Newcastle, who represented the two families, said: "They are glad the civil side of proceedings is over.

"They are very glad they no longer have to worry about going to court but they are very much of the mind that no matter how much money was awarded or agreed it is not something they can say significantly compensates them for their loss.

"The family and the GMB union were most disappointed at the low level of fine that was imposed. It was a pretty small amount. These people were killed by the gross negligence of the two firms involved."

He said it was up to the two firms to determine the size of the compensation award that each company should pay.

A statement from Yarm Road Ltd is expected to be issued today. The company has previously said that while it accepted its failings, the mistakes had not been deliberate.

Inquests into the deaths of the four men have yet to be held and no date has been listed by the coroner.