Artwork deaths 'accidental'

Two women who were killed when an inflatable artwork broke free and blew into the air suffered accidental deaths, an inquest jury ruled yesterday.

Elizabeth Collings, 68, and Claire Furmedge, 38, suffered fatal injuries in the accident in July 2006 that occurred in Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street, County Durham.

North Durham coroner Andrew Tweddle instructed the jury that the only verdict they could reach was one of accidental death. The Dreamspace inflatable was the work of artist Maurice Agis, who died aged 77 in October.