The company which runs Foxhall Stadium today pleaded guilty to jeopardising the safety of the public at the speedway and banger racing venue.

Spedeworth International (East Anglia) Limited admitted four charges spanning a period of more than two-and-a-half years at South East Suffolk Magistrates’ Court in Ipswich.

Two of the offences related to temporary tiered seating and concerns over the exit from the structure.

The company has denied a fifth accusation and a trial will take place later this year.

The prosecution was brought by Suffolk Coastal District Council.

The first offence to which Spedeworth pleaded guilty happened between September 1, 2013, and October 27, 2015.

The company was accused of failing to discharge its duty under the Health and Safety at Work Act relating to members of the public in, or in the vicinity of, either of two demountable tiered seating structures.

The issue arose from the inadequacy of the ‘egress’ provided from those structures.

The second admission involved an offence which occurred between February 28, 2015, and October 27, 2015.

Spedeworth failed to conduct its undertaking in regards to safety by not ensuring the public in, or in the vicinity of, the same stands were not exposed to risks relating to the state of the maintenance and repair of the stands.

The third charge it pleaded guilty to occurred on March 15, 2016, when it contravened a requirement imposed by an improvement notice to carry out remedial work to the same stands.

The fourth guilty plea was to a charge which stated that on April 30, 2016, the public in, or in the vicinity of, the stands still had inadequate exit from them.

The company has denied a similar alleged offence which is said to have occurred on May 29 this year – the day of the East Anglian Classic Hot Rod Championships and the Rookie Rods Supreme Championship.

A trial will now be held on this matter.

District Judge Celia Dawson said her powers were sufficient to hear the case in the magistrates court in Ipswich.

The court was told Spedeworth International will probably be calling six witnesses, including stewards.

The trial was listed for a full day on October 19.