A world record-breaking motorcycle stunt rider, whose wife was killed when she was struck by a road safety trailer, is to receive six figure damages in an out-of-court settlement.

The Scottish Road Safety Campaign trailer which hit Mrs Donna Bromham had been promoting road safety awareness at an event where her husband, Chris, was giving a demonstration of his motorcycle skills.

Mr Bromham sued Highland Regional Council after the death of his wife in July 1992 and evidence in the #950,000 action was due to be heard at the Court of Session yesterday when an agreement was announced.

Mr Colin McEachran, QC, for Mr Bromham, told Lord Milligan: ''It is a very tragic case in which a deeply loved wife was killed in most unfortunate circumstances.''

Lord Milligan said: ''I am very pleased there has been a settlement. It is obviously a very tragic case indeed.'' The terms were not announced but are understood to be a substantial six-figure sum.

Mr Bromham, 41, of Skewen, Swansea, claimed the council's driver, Mr Colin Ponting, was responsible for the accident. Liability was admitted and Mr Ponting later pled guilty to a charge of using a vehicle in a dangerous condition.

Mr Bromham sued on his own behalf and on behalf of his two daughters, Natalie, nine, and Natasha, six. His son from a previous marriage, Shane, 20, also claimed damages.

In July 1992, Mr Bromham was putting on a show at a Vintage Steam and Car Rally at the Farmers' Showfield in Nairn. Mrs Bromham, who was a beauty consultant with Boots as well as her husband's business partner, had left the showfield with her daughters and a friend to walk to a nearby petrol station.

She was on her way back, walking on the outside of the group nearest the pavement, when she was struck by the open canopy of the trailer. Mr Bromham claimed that as the van towing the trailer left the showground it mounted the pavement, causing the canopy to demolish a give-way sign.

The canopy opened and closed several times, nearly striking a lamp-post and narrowly missing a group of people on the pavement before it struck his wife.

The van failed to stop and, as it travelled on the Nairn to Inverness road, motorists sounded their horns and flashed their lights in an attempt to warn Mr Ponting of the danger the trailer was creating.

When he finally pulled over at a bus stop, the canopy hit the bus shelter and fell off the trailer. Mr Ponting admitted to a woman police constable that boys who had been playing outside the trailer at the showground had distracted his attention and that he could not have properly secured the catches on the canopy before leaving the showground.

Mrs Bromham was taken to Raigmore Hospital in Inverness with massive abdominal injuries. She suffered a shattered spleen and a damaged liver. She went through three major operations and was given more than 80 pints of blood in an attempt to save her life but died two days later.

Both Mr Bromham and Natalie have suffered post-traumatic stress over the death. He was at the scene of the accident within minutes, saw his wife lying injured on the pavement, went with her in the ambulance, and was at her side until she died. Natalie was with her mother when she was struck by the trailer.

Both have suffered nightmares and flashbacks and Mr Bromham has felt suicidal. At the time of his wife's death, he was considering joining the US stunt tour and was involved in negotiations for a world record challenge with Robbie Knievel.

For nearly three years after the accident, he could not face going back to being a professional motor cycle jumper. When he made a comeback in August 1995, he set a new world record by jumping over 21 juggernauts.