FOUR companies have appeared in court over the death of a 10-year-old boy in a Reading Topshop store.

Kaden Reddick died after a display queue barrier fell on top of him in The Oracle Shopping Centre on February 13, 2017.

READ ALSO: Reading Topshop death: Four companies charged.

An inquest held in March this year heard how Kaden, from Burghfield, had been in the store with his mother, grandmother and two siblings after a family trip to the cinema, when the tragedy struck.

On March 10, the inquest jury decided that although the 180 kgs queue barrier was "inadequately fastened," the considered conclusion was accidental death.

Reading Borough Council (RBC) has placed charges against Topshop and its owner Arcadia, Realm Projects LTD (the manufacturers) and Stoneforce (the fitters).

READ ALSO: More than 50 fines issued for fly-tipping on one Reading road since CCTV installed.

The companies appeared in Reading Magistrates Court yesterday (November 19).

All four companies have been charged separately with failing to discharge general health and safety duty to people other than employees.

Arcadia, Realm Projects LTD and Stoneforce have also been charged with installing an unsafe work article.

The case has been sent to Reading Crown Court where a trial will begin on December 15.