A REPORT highlighting the cause of an incident where two seven-year-old boys were injured after a section of ceiling collapsed could be published within a matter of weeks.

More than 40 parents and children were in Tranent Parish Church Hall for a meeting of the town’s Beavers, Cubs and Scouts 12 months ago when part of the ceiling collapsed.

Emergency services were called out to the building, on Church Street.

One parent, who was inside the hall, told the Courier at the time: “The ceiling plaster collapsed from the roof over a group of children, the Beavers, and it was chaos – walking wounded and one with head split open.

“The Beaver leader was distraught, three Beavers were being enrolled just as the ceiling came down over all the group.

“This could have been far worse.”

Since the incident, an investigation has been carried out by East Lothian Council’s environmental health team.

The report will investigate causes and consequences, and lessons that may be learned in respect of future prevention.

Evidence gathered during an investigation forms the basis of a report which ultimately informs the course of action of the environmental health service.

A council spokeswoman said: “Following the collapse of an area of plaster from the church hall ceiling, an investigation was undertaken by the council’s environmental health service.

“A prohibition notice under the Health and Safety at Work Act was served on the use of the church hall until such times as suitable remedial works were undertaken.

“The hall has been back in use for some time, with the investigation report being finalised and expected to be concluded shortly.”

Church of Scotland representatives met representatives of the Health and Safety Executives a day after the incident.

A spokeswoman for the Church of Scotland said they were awaiting the report’s release.

She said: “Since the accident occurred in October last year, we have been working closely with the council regulatory services department as they carried out their investigations.

“We will welcome the report when published but it would be inappropriate to comment further until it has been made public.”