Woman’s death from horse costume in Cornwall prompts call for tighter rules

Coroner says May Day event should be better managed after Laura Smallwood, 34, died in accident involving obby oss'

The death of a woman who suffered a neck injury when she was struck with a hefty hobby horse costume during a centuries-old Cornish festival has prompted a coroner to call for tighter rules on the organisation of such events.

Andrew Cox, the senior Cornwall and Isles of Scilly coroner, is to write to the government over the death of mother of two Laura Smallwood, who was hit by the obby oss", a 50lb costume worn by a masked male dancer that parades around the harbourside town of Padstow on May Day.