Teenagers Bailed Over Pier Blaze

As firefighters continue to tackle pockets of fire on Hastings pier in East Sussex, two teenagers arrested on suspicion of arson have been bailed. Up to 95% of the pier has been destroyed and Hastings council has warned that the structure is at risk of collapsing into the sea. East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service, was alerted at around 1am yesterday by a member of the public. Around 60 firefighters were transported to the burning pier via local RNLI lifeboats.There are no reports of any injuries. A spokesman for East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service said: "At the moment about 95% of the structure has been destroyed. It's a very historic building and landmark for Hastings. The priority for the firefighters is to preserve as much of the structure as they can to see if something can be done with it in the future." A spokesman for the Sussex Police said: "The origins of the fire are still being investigated."

Osborne Joins Civil Aviation Authority

The Secretary of State for Transport has appointed Iain Osborne as a member of the Board of the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). He will become Group Director, Regulatory Policy with effect from 10th January 2011. Mr Osborne has a long history of change management and leadership in both the public and private sector. He has held senior roles within the telecoms industry, the energy regulator OFGEM and the European Commission. As the current Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Ireland Authority for Utility Regulation, he has continued to build on his experience of protecting consumers in key sectors of the economy. As Group Director, Regulatory Policy, Mr Osborne's key tasks will be to ensure the CAA develops and delivers a consistent regulatory approach, offering choice and value for all aviation customers. He will be responsible for taking forward changes to the economic regulation of airports currently being considered by the Government.

Firm Fined For Endangering Workforce

A man was left with serious injuries after a fall from an unguarded platform, a court heard during the sentencing of a Huddersfield textile retailer. Fifty-seven year-old Dennis Hunter, of Barnsley, was left with a broken leg and crushed ankle when he fell eight feet onto concrete while dismantling shelving at Phoenox Textiles' site in Spring Grove Mills, Clayton West. Huddersfield based Phoenox Textiles was prosecuted after an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the men were working unsupervised and had received no training to dismantle the 30-feet-high shelving system safely. The men had not been given any specialist equipment to enable them to work safely at height. Ladders supplied were not suitable for the work nor secured in any way. Huddersfield magistrates heard Mr Hunter was on a lower rack while cutting through boarding with a circular saw. The board tipped and sent him crashing to the floor, breaking his leg. The heavy board then fell on top of him crushing his left ankle and badly bruising his face. Mr Hunter underwent two operations and was in plaster for seven weeks before he was able to return to work part time. Following the incident, HSE served an Improvement Notice ordering Phoenox to properly assess risks to staff while working at height and implement suitable controls. A Prohibition Notice was also served halting any further dismantling work on other poorly-maintained racking at the site. Phoenox Textiles Ltd., which employs 45 staff across two sites, pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act by failing to ensure the safety of employees. The firm was fined £12,000 and ordered to pay £3,056 costs.

(BMcN/GK)