Ateaching assistant is to receive £10,000 in compensation for injuries she received while protecting children in her care from falling wall bars.

Julie Belcher was employed at the time by Hartlebury Church of England School. She suffered whiplash and severe bruising and swelling as result of trying to prevent equipment falling on six children in her care. Mrs Belcher said that children would have died if it had landed on them.

The 49 year old spent seven weeks recuperating at home from her injuries. She said that the accident had changed her life, leaving her with insomnia and nervousness.

Speller Metcalfe Ltd, who installed the equipment, admitted liability and settled out of court. A spokesman for the company said we take accident claims of this nature very seriously and have since revised some of our procedures.