Maurice Agis – the artist who created an inflatable work of art that was the centre of a freak accident which killed two people – has been arrested by Durham police on suspicion of manslaughter.

Agis, 74, was present at Riverside Park, Chester-le-Street, Co. Durham, when his 2,500sq m (26,900sq ft) Dreamspace – an inflatable sculpture with interconnecting rooms which visitors could explore – became detached from its ropes and was thrown 100ft in the air on 23 July this year, tragically killing two women and hurting several others.

Agis has now been bailed pending further inquiries.

Detective superintendent Neil Malkin said: “We are awaiting reports from the Health and Safety Executive’s laboratory and it is likely to be summer next year before we are in a position to put a file before the Crown Prosecution Service.”