William Eichler 05 July 2018

Council to ban bouncy castles after deaths

Havant Borough Council has banned the use of bouncy castles on its land after an explosion killed a three-year-old girl in Norfolk.

Ava-May Littleboy suffered a fatal head injury when the inflatable trampoline she was playing on ‘exploded’ last Sunday.

Theresa May was asked during Prime Minister’s Questions to introduce a temporary ban.

Offering her condolences to Ava-May’s family, as well as to the family of Summer Grant who was killed two years ago in similar circumstances, Mrs May said: ‘If any findings emerge from the investigation then the necessary recommendations to improve safety will be shared.’

Havant council said they would implement a ban immediately.

‘The extreme high temperatures that are currently being experienced may have been a major contributory factor to the explosion, however we don't know this for certain,’ a council spokesperson said.

‘Until the cause of the explosion has been properly identified, it is not possible to manage this risk.

‘It has therefore been decided that until the reason for the explosion of the bouncy castle has been identified, such that the risk can be properly managed by the event organiser, Havant Borough Council will not permit the use of bouncy castles or inflatables at any events taking place on its land.’

‘The position will be reviewed once the outcome of the enquiry into the cause of the explosion of the bouncy castle is known,’ they added.

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