A football club has been fined after a volunteer died when he fell through a "fragile roof".

Clive Churchhouse, 71, sustained fatal injuries after he fell through roof sheeting onto the terrace steps below at St Albans City FC's Clarence Park ground.

The "wholly avoidable" incident happened on July 18 2017.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the club failed to ensure a suitable system was in place to authorise certain work. It was also found that inadequate supervision, together with volunteers being provided with keys to gain uncontrolled entry to the football ground, resulted in access to the roof to carry out repairs in an unsafe manner.

At Luton Magistrates' Court yesterday, St Albans City Football and Athletic Club Ltd, of Victoria Street, St Albans pleaded guilty to breaching Section 3 of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and has been fined £1000 and ordered to pay costs of £1000.

After the hearing HSE inspector Sandra Dias said: “This was a tragic and wholly avoidable fatality caused by the failure of the club in its duty of care towards volunteers.

“Employers who use volunteers have to ensure their safety, the same as if they were a paid employee.”

Mr Churchhouse was a lifelong St Albans City FC supporter. A stand at the ground has been renamed ‘The Clive Churchhouse Terrace’ in his honour.