Storm Doris victim Tahnie Martin's family demand answers over weather warnings

Tahnie Martin was fatally struck in Dudley Street by a two-metre wide water tank cover which had come from the roof of the Wolverhampton shopping centre on February 23 as high winds battered the city.

A full inquest into the death of the 29-year-old from Stafford, is now being prepared and has been pushed back until October 2.

Speaking at a preliminary hearing at Black Country's Coroner's Court today, Tanya Robinson, representing Miss Martin's family, said: "It seems to us weather warnings were clearly issued prior to the day.

"The family want to understand what systems were in place to receive those warnings and respond to them.

"Plainly it was all over the news whether the relevant organisations were signed up to Met Office alerts or not.

"Those warnings included the threat of injury by flying debris."

The full inquest had originally been pencilled in for July but yesterday's hearing heard that an investigation into maintenance records concerning the various roofs of the Mander Center - in particular the Black Rock building most relevant to the case - was still ongoing and likely to continue over the coming weeks.

Bernard Thorogood, representing Wolverhampton council, said: "We are still undertaking a very detailed investigation which will not be completed until the end of July.

"There are still some fundamental factual issues being uncovered and processed around the maintenance records for work on those roofs."

He added: "My current understanding is that there was no work record maintenance schedule in place for the structures on the day.

"What we are minded to do is pursue individuals who did work on the roofs. If there were 40 or so contractors it may be difficult.

"If there was an in-house team it will be very easy."

Coroner Zafar Siddique said he was still undecided as to whether 'harrowing' CCTV footage which captured the moment the debris came away from the roof and hit Miss Martin would be played at the inquest.

While a decision on whether a jury will preside over the hearing will be made in two weeks.

A further preliminary hearing has been scheduled to take place on July 25.