Council bans bouncy castles after girl dies

BOUNCY castles have been banned by a council after a three-year-old girl’s death.

Ava-may Littleboy died in hospital at Great Yarmouth after she was thrown from an inflatable in Gorlestonon-sea, Norfolk, on Sunday.

A post-mortem found she died of a head injury, Norfolk Police said. Experts were last night examining the equipment on the beach. Police said witnesses reported hearing a “loud bang” as the inflatable “apparently burst”. The incident led to calls for the Government to consider a ban on inflatables in public spaces.

In a statement issued yesterday, Havant borough council, 220 miles away on the south coast, said although no incidents or concerns had been raised about inflatables in the area, it was banning their use. A spokesman said: “It has been decided that until the reason for the explosion of the bouncy castle has been identified … the council will not permit use of bouncy castles or inflatables at any events taking place on its land.”

Robert Halfon, Tory MP for Harlow, Essex, where Summer Grant, seven, died when a bouncy castle broke from its moorings in 2016, said action was needed after “two horrific tragedies”.

During Prime Minister’s Questions, he asked Theresa May to “urgently review” the regulations on bouncy castles and ban them in public areas until their safety could be assured. Mrs May said: “I do share his concerns about these tragic incidents.”