Three face court after Shropshire roof death

Bryan Welch, 46, was on top of the structure at Smethcott, near Church Stretton, when tragedy struck in November 2013.

An inquest held last year heard he had been electrocuted when he was carrying out welding work on the barn, where he was helping to fit ridge capping.

Cables carrying 11,000 volts of electricity ran close to the roof.

At a hearing at Telford Magistrates Court yesterday, three men denied an offence of contravening a health and safety regulation in relation to the incident.

Contractor Simon Bloor, 53, of Little Harlescott Lane in Shrewsbury, appeared in court. John Richard Downes, of Red House Farm, Smethcott, and Timothy John Downes, of The Farm, Longnor, near Shrewsbury, also appeared.

They run JR & MC Downes & Son, which owns the barn.

All three men pleaded not guilty to the charges brought by the Health and Safety Executive.

The case was transferred to Shrewsbury Crown Court for a plea and directions hearing next month. The defendants were granted unconditional bail.

Mr Welch, a father-of-three from Marshbrook, near Church Stretton, was a member of South Shropshire Motorcycle Club.

At the time the steel erector's wife Julia described him as a "wonderful dad and amazing husband."

The inquest, held in March last year, heard fellow workers desperately tried to resuscitate him but he was pronounced dead at Royal Shrewsbury Hospital.

Mr Welch had been in the motorcycle club for more than 10 years.

The club's tribute stated: "Everyone at the club is devastated."

Following his death the club introduced a memorial shield in his honour.