Fireworks man cleared over M5 crash

A FIREWORKS CONTRACTOR in charge of a display held on the night of a massive motorway crash in which seven people died and 51 were injured has been cleared of breaching health and safety laws. A judge directed a jury at Bristol Crown Court to find Geoffrey Counsell, 51, not guilty of a single charge of failing to ensure the safety of others contrary to the Health and Safety at Work Act. The charge alleged that Mr Counsell, of Ashill in Somerset, failed to ensure he operated the firework display so as to ensure, as far as was reasonably practicable, that others who might be affected were not exposed to risks to their health and safety.

2011 VW Jetta gets launched

The 2011 Volkswagen Jetta Volkswagen reckons that this latest Jetta is no longer a Golf with a boot to make a saloon but is instead a completely new stand-alone model, even though under its new skin – inspired by the VW NCC (New Compact Coupe) concept at New York this year – it sits on a stretched (by 70mm) Golf platform. To make the Jetta stand apart from its Golf sibling VW has fitted the Jetta with an all new dashboard with aluminium highlights and a leather trimmed steering wheel. All Jettas will come equipped with AirCon and CD stereo with touchscreen SatNav an option.

Artist Barry Rowe produces Pebble Beach concours poster

Automotive Fine Arts Society member Barry Rowe has produced the poster art for the 2011 Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance, set for Aug. 21. Rowe's artwork features the Mercedes-Benz No.