Two highly respected Falmouth hoteliers have been ordered to pay nearly £15,000 in fines and costs after a honeymooner broke his arm and wrist and suffered serious head injuries after falling through a rotten balcony at their guest house.

Julie Anne McCann, 49, and Troy Vincent McCann, 48, of Chellowdene Bed and Breakfast, Gyllyngvase Hill, were fined £4,000 each by magistrates in Truro and ordered to pay costs of £6,074.

They both admitted an offence under the Health and Safety at Work Act on Monday.

Matt Bullivant from Peterborough was on honeymoon in September 2015 when he plunged through a rotten wooden balustrade and fell 3.4 metres onto the tarmac below.

He sustained a broken arm and wrist, damage to his back and lacerations to his head and was off work for several months.

Kingsley Keat, prosecuting on behalf of Cornwall Council, said: "When the gentleman leant on it he fell straight forward and landed on his head."

He was off work for three and a half months following the fall on September 21 last year and still suffers "constant pain" in his right hand.

Following the hearing, he told the BBC he has a large scar on his head, suffers flashbacks and is "petrified" of heights.

He said: "We were meant to stay in Falmouth for a week but ended up in hospital for a week instead."

The case was brought by Cornwall Council Public Protection, and officer Carol Thorogood said: “Falls from height are a major cause of injury. This accident was due to inadequate maintenance of a wooden structure. Any business owning a wooden balcony must check for water penetration and rot and must have a suitable and sufficient maintenance regime in place.”

Cornwall Council cabinet member for communities Geoff Brown said: “Our Public Protection and Business Support team offer assistance to businesses to enable them to operate safely, to protect their customers and employees and to comply with the law.

“However, where we find that a business has been negligent and failed in its duty to ensure health and safety we are prepared to take the matter before the court. This is a timely reminder that owners should regularly inspect their property to ensure that structural failings do not cause harm to the public.”

Julie and Troy were contacted but declined to comment on the case.