Essex firm Birkett Long has launched a construction law group but what it really needs, we would suggest, is a health and safety group.

All we could do was worry about the maximum loading weight on that ladder, the risk they were taking in not keeping their hard hats on, and whether Keith Songhurst (to the right) was doing enough to ensure everyone stayed safe.

However, we can report that lead partner Peter Allen (top of the ladder), as well as Susan Masters, Graham Wright and Jane Calnan below him, all survived this photo.

(Article refers to images in the printed edition: [2003] Gazette, 30 October, 14)