A WIDOW has said she can now start moving on with her life after the company who caused her husband's death were fined a quarter of a million pounds.

Maureen Young, of Bramley Way, Snodland, was in court to see Alfred McAlpine Capital Projects being fined £250,000 following the death of 66-year-old Douglas Young.

The company had pleaded guilty to breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act at an earlier hearing before appearing at Maidstone Crown Court on Friday.

Mr Young was killed on the Ratcliffe Highway, near Hoo in August 2005. He had been travelling on his motorbike and was unaware he had taken a closed road.

The motorcyclist hit temporary concrete crash barriers weighing over two tonnes each that had been laid in a line across the road.

Richard Andrew, prosecuting, told the court how Alfred McAlpine had failed to replace signs and cones warning drivers of the closure ahead.

Judge Griffith-Jones said Alfred McAlpine had made basic failures and the company’s approach was "slapdash and haphazard".

Alfred McAlpine was fined £250,000 and order to pay £5,859 costs.

Speaking after the case Maureen Young said she was relieved with the outcome.

She added: "Me and my family can now have some kind of closure."

Full story and interview in Monday's Medway Messenger.