The family of a child who died when a gravestone collapsed in a cemetery may sue, it emerged today.

Relatives of Reuben Cameron Powell, six, revealed they are considering legal action against Harrogate Borough Council after an inquest ruled the youngster's death was accidental.

Reuben, of Nidd Vale Terrace, Harrogate, was crushed to death on July 7 last year by a falling gravestone in Grove Road cemetery, off Skipton Road, just yards from his front door.

Harrogate coroner Jeremy Cave recorded a verdict of accidental death.

The inquest today heard that the tragedy happened when Reuben was playing with friends in the cemetery.

The child was trapped and killed under a large slab gravestone which was about five feet long.

Reuben was pronounced dead at the scene, and Mr Cave said a post-mortem had revealed that he died of head injuries.

David Smith, for the Health and Safety Executive which investigated Reuben's death, told the inquest the gravestone was found to have been potentially unstable, but it was not possible to determine why it collapsed.

After the inquest, Reuben's mother, Jeanette, said: "For months I have been asking for all unsafe headstones both in that cemetery and across the country to be laid flat and then to be restored safely to save someone else's child from the horrific death that Reuben suffered.

"We believe the council should have acted sooner."

Pat Kilburn, head of parks and open spaces for Harrogate Borough Council, said: "We are taking this issue very seriously. We are progressing with work to make our cemeteries as safe as possible."

In recording his verdict, Mr Cave said: "I do hope that some good comes out of this and some lessons are learnt."

Updated: 15:23 Wednesday, April 18, 2001