Thomas Cook charged over Corfu gas deaths

Tour operator Thomas Cook has been charged over the deaths of two British children in a Corfu hotel bungalow.

A Greek police chief said the UK holiday firm is accused of "negligence leading to manslaughter," adding: "No arrests have been made at this stage."

Christianne Shepherd, seven, and her brother Robert, six, were found dead last Thursday from carbon monoxide poisoning.

Their father Neil Shepherd, 38, and his girlfriend Ruth Beatson, 27, were left in comas but survived. Police this morning filed preliminary charges against Thomas Cook and five other individuals or companies. The gas is believed to have come from a faulty boiler.

Major Dimitris Bineris, who is leading the investigation, said: "We are fully satisfied that six companies or individuals are responsible for negligence that led to the two deaths.

"This morning we delivered the completed investigation to Corfu prosecutor Harikleia Dairousi who will study the file and then lodge formal charges. She might even do so within the day. The prosecutor has the final word on this."

Among the others charged are believed to be the owner of the Corcyra Palace Hotel, the hotel manager, its maintenance manager and an air conditioning technician. Major Bineris added: "There are no arrests at this stage because they are all charged with negligence leading to manslaughter.

"This is a misdemeanour, not a criminal charge, therefore nobody is detained and physically confined in a prison cell." An inquest into the deaths of the children was opened in Wakefield today by coroner David Hinchcliff.