COURT proceedings have been started against South Lakeland District Council after two people were killed in collisions involving authority-owned bin lorries within the space of a year.

The Health and Safety Executive brought the charges against SLDC following the deaths of Mary Cook, a 54-year-old tourist, in June 2010 and Dorothy Ann Harkes, a 58-year-old employee, in March 2011.

The authority offered no plea to two counts of breaching the Health and Safety at Work Act and will next appear at Carlisle Crown Court on December 29 - where a judge can impose an unlimited fine.

Previous cases of similar nature have attracted fines of £100,000, Craig Morris, prosecuting on behalf of the HSE, told South Lakeland Magistrates Court.

Mother-of-two Mrs Cook, who was visiting the Lakes with her husband Stewart, was killed on a popular and narrow path near Grasmere.

Simon Steele, then of Bank Road, Bowness, was the man behind the wheel of the 7.5 tonne truck when it reversed into the school librarian.

"She and her husband had been walking along the gravel area and stepped out onto to the path," said Mr Morris. "Shortly after the vehicle reversed and she died as a consequence of her injuries.

"The prosecution say there were a number of failings on the defendants part. Most of the guidance states one should avoid reversing or take steps to mitigate. In this case the driver of the vehicle was required to reverse along a very busy path that leads up to a popular path for walkers."

Steel admitted causing her death by careless driving and was handed a nine month suspended jail term in March 2011.

Later that month, the second death occurred.

Mrs Harkes worked for SLDC and was collecting recycling from bins within the grounds of St Mary's C of E Primary School on Princes Road, WIndermere.

A truck driven by Malcolm Sarginson, then of Fairfield Road, Windermere, reversed into his colleague in the staff car park. He was jailed for 10 months and disqualified from driving for three years at Carlisle Crown Court after admitting causing death by careless driving.

"The initial system was to collect recycling waste from outside the school grounds but SLDC decided to collect from inside which meant the vehicle had to reverse into the school," said Mr Morris.

"The problem that we have is there was no need to reverse at all. The case isn't about trying SLDC for the accidents but more about the systems that are in place."

Kate Hargan, representing SLDC, said it would be premature to enter a plea at this stage.