WH Smith has admitted health and safety breaches after a customer fell through a trap door in the Taunton store.

A representative from WH Smith and Taunton Deane Borough Council appeared at Taunton Crown Court for a pre-trial review today (May 17).

The stationery retailer is charged with two counts of failing to discharge health and saftey duty to persons under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 after a customer fell through an open trap door in 2014.

WH Smith has pleaded guilty to both charges.

A spokesman for Taunton Deane Borough Council said: "Following an investigation into an accident involving a customer falling through an open trap door at the Taunton WH Smith store on February 16, 2014, Taunton Deane Borough Council brought proceedings for offences contrary to The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. 

"WH Smith Ltd has today pleaded guilty to two offences and will be sentenced at Taunton Crown Court on October 31."

WH Smith has declined to comment at this stage.