A civil engineer is celebrating after the collapse of a prosecution for breach of health and safety regulations following the death of a building worker.

Andrew AllanAndrew Allan, a consultant civil and structural engineer from Upper Heyford, said: "It took them 16 months to decide on whether or not to prosecute me and I would like to know why they didn't fully investigate the evidence before bringing the case.

"The accident happened in August 2000 and since that time my family has been placed under enormous strain -- it would have been the end of a 35-year career for me."

The trial at Liverpool Crown Court was expected to last two weeks but was withdrawn by the Health and Safety Executive after two days following a direction by the judge.

It followed the death of a steel erector, Ian Cavender, while fitting steel doors to a Liverpool airport hangar designed by Mr Allan.

The case against Mr Allan collapsed after two witnesses for the contractor said Mr Allan's plans provided all the information needed to safely erect the doors.

Mr Cavender's employer and the main contractor and planning supervisor, have admitted breach of safety regulations and will be sentenced soon.

He was prosecuted under new regulations placing a duty on designers to provide information to enable safe working conditions.

Mr Allan's solicitor, Mark Jones, of Beale and Co, said: "The case has hung over him for two and a half years and imposed enormous strain on him and his family.

"We have always taken the view that the Health and Safety Executive prosecution of Mr Allan was misguided and should never have been brought.

"It is a pity the case had to proceed to trial, with the attendant expense and stress for Mr Allan."

The HSE was ordered to pay the legal costs to Mr Allan, thought to run into several hundred thousand pounds.