A ROOFER who threw a two-foot piece of lead from a Bolton church roof, hitting a 12-year-old girl on the head has been fined £2,500. Michael James King, 31, of Normandy Grove, Swinton, admitted a breach in Health and Safety regulations before Bolton magistrates.

The court heard that Laura Holt came out of the chapel door, followed by her parents and was struck by the two-foot by one-foot piece of lead.

Mrs Goddard said Laura was struck a glancing blow on the back of her head which threw her forward and onto the ground.

She suffered concussion, severe bruising and back injuries in the accident. She has since made a full recovery.

Self-employed King was carrying out repair work to the roof of St Paul's Church, Garside Street, Bolton, on December 23 last year when the accident happened.

Health and Safety Executive (HSE) inspector Christina Goddard told the court that King was repairing lead flashing on the roof, which was covered with scaffolding but was directly above the main doorway to the chapel.

He removed the lead and threw it from the roof from a height of between nine and 12 feet. King had intended the lead to land in a nearby flower bed.

"Nothing should ever be thrown from a roof," said Mrs Goddard. "A chute could have been put in place to dispose of rubbish or a block and pulley system could have been erected to carry rubbish to the ground. Alternatively it would have been acceptable for him to carry smaller pieces of rubbish to the ground by hand.

"The young girl was very lucky to have escaped serious injury in this accident."

Brian Stanton, defending, said King had admitted his mistake and regretted what had happened. He added that Laura's parents were currently pursuing a civil claim for compensation which would be handled through King's insurers. "This is the first incident of any kind King has been involved in and in all his years work he has never had a complaint against him before," said Mr Stanton. "He was packing up the job for the Christmas period and did it to save time.

"He did shout a warning before throwing the lead but admits his responsibility."

The bench took King's guilty plea and remorse into consideration but in fining him £2,500 with £448 costs said it was a deliberate act which only luck prevented from having very serious consequences.