The creator of an inflatable sculpture that killed two people after breaking free of its moorings was charged with manslaughter yesterday.

Maurice Agis, 76, has spent more than 40 years devising public art and had toured Europe for a decade with the ill-fated Dreamspace, a giant walk-in artwork half the size of a football pitch, which visitors said was like a “psychedelic cathedral”.

The incident happened on a warm Sunday afternoon at Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street, Co Durham, in July 2006. Dozens of families, many with young children, were exploring Dreamspace’s coloured caverns and corridors when it suddenly reared 70ft into the air and flipped over.

The artist tried vainly to grab on to a rope to stop the plastic structure from taking off. Some of those inside were flung clear. Others were trapped inside.

Elizabeth Collings, 68, and Claire Furmedge, 38, were killed. Another 13 people were injured.

Among them was Rosie Wright, a three-year-old girl who fell 50ft from the sculpture, suffering multiple fractures and a punctured lung. Her life was saved by a passing anaesthetist and the prompt action of an air ambulance crew who flew her to hospital.

Mr Agis, from Bow, East London, was charged after a 19-month investigation by the Health and Safety Executive and Durham police.

Detective Superintendent Neil Malkin described it as one of the most complex inquiries he had dealt with. A team of up to 30 officers spoke to more than 700 people and took 200 statements.

A police spokesman said: “Durham Constabulary has charged Maurice Agis, aged 76, with gross negligence manslaughter following advice from the Crown Prosecution Service.

“Mr Agis, who was charged at Charing Cross police station in London, also faces an offence under Section 3 (2) of the Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974.”

The artist was bailed to appear before Peterlee magistrates, Co Durham, on February 26 at 2pm.

Brouhaha International Limited, a Liverpool-based promotions company was charged with breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act, as was Chester-le-Street District Council.

Tony Galloway, the council’s director of development services, has been charged with a separate breach of the Act.

The police spokesman added: “The families of those killed and the people injured have been informed of today’s developments.”

Mr Agis created Dreamspace in 1996 and the maze-like structure, comprising 115 interconnecting pods, had received more than 250,000 visitors in cities across Europe.

The project had received £60,000 from the Arts Council for a UK tour, and was due to have been sited next at Victoria Park in Hackney, East London.

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