The boss of an inflatables firm has admitted failing to secure a blow-up slide which injured three children at a Kent show.

Jay Crick, 34, of Russells Way, South Ockendon, Essex, pleaded guilty to two offences after the slide blew over at Tonbridge Garden Show on May 25 last year.

The children, who were on the slide when it tipped over, were taken to hospital after the accident but released later that day with minor injuries.

Crick appeared before Sevenoaks magistrates charged with failing to protect the health and safety of visitors to the show by not adequately securing the inflatable, and failing to carry out a risk assessment of the use of the inflatable.

He was given a 12-month conditional discharge for each of the offences and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

In sentencing Crick, magistrates took into account the fact it was an isolated event that had resulted in only minor injuries and that Mr Crick had entered an early guilty plea and was of good character.

John Batty, Tonbridge & Malling Borough Council’s director of health and housing, said: “I cannot emphasise enough how important it is for employers and operators to make sure they follow basic common sense health and safety procedures.

"There is no doubt, in this case, that the accident could have been prevented if the inflatable slide had been properly anchored to the floor.”

The Tonbridge Garden Show was at the Longmead Stadium, Darenth Avenue, Tonbridge.