Girl crushed by falling wall

Police and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) are investigating the death of a three-year-old girl who was killed when a garden wall collapsed on top of her.

Meg Burgess had been walking with her mother and younger brother close to their home in Prestatyn, north Wales, when a 6ft high temporary breeze block wall fell on her.

A joint investigation with police and the HSE into how the wall collapsed is now under way, but it is believed the incident is not being treated as suspicious.

It is thought the wall had been built to hold back tonnes of excavated soil at a house under renovation.

Detective inspector Richard Jones of North Wales Police said structural engineers from the HSE would be examining the wall "to determine what was the cause of this horrific incident". He said the main focus of the inquiry would be what caused the wall to come down.

In a statement, Meg's parents Pete and Lindsay and brother Wilson were said to be "horrified by this horrible, tragic event, that has affected theirs and so many other lives forever."

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Sion Kingston from law firm Irwin Mitchell said: "This is a tragic case and an accident which should never have happened. Owners/Occupiers of properties and contractors working on properties have a legal obligation to ensure the safety of those visiting the premises and those who may be affected by works being undertaken on premises, including passers by in order to prevent this type of incident occurring.

"Whilst any subsequent actions can not undo what has tragically happened here, failure to comply with those obligations can give rise to both criminal proceedings (conducted by the HSE/LA and by the Police) and civil proceedings for compensation for injury and deaths occurring. Clearly matters are being investigated by the authorities and we will have to wait to see what happens here."