A COURT case in which railway operators were facing penalties over an incident involving the death of a four-year-old boy has been adjourned to February next year.

Bobby Wood, from Strood, died after he strayed on to the track near his home in June 1999. The tragedy sparked an investigation by the Health and Safety Executive, as to how the little boy was able to gain access to the live track.

As a result, a decision was made to prosecute Network Rail Infrastructure Ltd and Balfour Beatty Rail Infrastructure Services Ltd for alleged breaches of health and safety law.

The companies were ordered by magistrates to be sentenced by a crown court judge after they admitted being in breach of various aspects of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

But a hearing due to take place at Maidstone was postponed to allow time for a further investigation. The case has now been fixed to take place at Maidstone Crown Court on February 9 and 10.