THE parents of a toddler killed by an out-of-control speedboat have welcomed news of the arrest of the boat driver and firm owners.

Two-year-old Paul Gallagher died in August 2002 when the boat mounted the Bahamas beach he was sleeping on.

Following nearly five years of campaigning, his parents Paul and Andrea say they are delighted the trio have been arrested and charged.

Last Tuesday the Foreign Office told the couple Bain had been charged with manslaughter by Bahamian Police.

Two days later, the owners of boat firm Paradise Ocean Sports - Clifford Nottage, aged 53, and Evangeless Williamson, aged 65 - were charged with manslaughter through negligence.

Williamson is also charged with perjury, thought to have been committed during an inquest into Paul's death in 2003.

A newspaper in the country has reported Nottage was granted £5,100 bail, while Williamson is on £6,120 bail.

They are both due back in court next week for decisions to be made on a hearing date.

Mr Gallagher said: "We are delighted the authorities have charged these men."

Bain, aged 29, appeared in a magistrates' court in the Bahamian capital Nassau on Monday last week charged with manslaughter by negligence.

He was not required to enter a plea and was released on £5,100 bail.

Bain was due to appear in court again yesterday for a hearing to determine the date of a preliminary inquiry and to see if there is sufficient evidence for him to face trial in the Supreme Court.

Chief magistrate Roger Gomez ordered him to hand over his passport and report to a police station every Saturday.

Mr Gallagher, 42, added: "It is a fantastic step forward but we both still want the case re-opened and investigated.

"There are other people who need to be held to account, including the Atlantis Resort's lifeguards who failed to notice the boat was out of control."

The Gallaghers, of Repton Road, Orpington, are adamant they should be in the Bahamas in the event of a trial.

A warrant for Bain's arrest was issued in November last year.

When nothing happened, the family met Lord Triesman from the Foreign Office in London on January 10 to hurry things along.

They also appealed to Prime Minister Tony Blair for help.