A campaign group set up after a falling crane killed two men in Battersea four years ago have claimed a victory after finally securing a change in health and safety laws.

Michael Alexa, 23, and Jonathan Cloke, 37, were both killed following the tragedy, on September 26, 2006.

Mr Cloke was inside the cab of the 165ft crane and Mr Alexa was killed when the crane collapsed at the Barratt Homes site on the corner of Thessaly Road and Battersea Park Road.

Following the deaths, the Battersea Crane Disaster Action Group (BCDAG) was set up by relatives of the men and Battersea and Wandsworth TUC, campaigning for tighter crane regulations.

Last week, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) announced that from April 6 employers would have responsibility to notify the HSE of the crane’s site address and the name and address of the crane’s owners.

The HSE also ruled cranes needed to be examined within a 14-day period before they could be put to use.

Mr Alexa’s mother Liliana, from Battersea, said: “My son didn’t work on a site, he was just out cleaning his car in the street, an innocent bystander.

"If health and safety surrounding tower cranes had been taken more seriously, he may still be here today.

"I don’t want another mother to go through what I have – I hope this register will help prevent more deaths in the future.

“This register must be used alongside workers on sites being organised and able to stand up to their employers when they see something that is not right.”

A spokesman for the GMB trade union said: “We want to pay tribute to the BCDAG initiated by Battersea and Wandsworth TUC.

“This campaign unified the community in Battersea, bereaved family members and trade unions to bring the issue of crane safety to the public and campaign for change to prevent further deaths.”