A housing company and builder have both been prosecuted for safety failings after incorrect work was carried out on chimneys at two properties.

Cornwall Housing, of Higher Tenant Road, Wadebridge, pleaded guilty to a breach of the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974 and was fined £6,660 with £697 in costs.

Its contractor, Barry Shipton, of Down Road, Tavistock, pleaded guilty to a breach of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998 and was fined £2,664 with £692 in costs.

Bodmin Magistrates' Court heard the work was undertaken at one property in Jubilee Terrace, Bodmin, and another in Coronation Road, Callington.

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After the work was completed, Cornwall Housing's own gas engineers had inspected the properties and classed the situations as 'immediately dangerous'.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) found the chimneys were used to flue working gas boilers and fires at the properties, meaning the gases had no means to escape and could build up inside.

HSE inspector Simon Jones said: "Although no-one was hurt, this was an incredibly dangerous situation where gas appliances could have pumped poisonous and potentially fatal gasses into the loft space of a home instead of to outside the property.

"Whenever a chimney is removed or capped careful checks should be taken to ensure that the chimney is not being used and cannot be used in the future.

"Proper work instruction and control by Cornwall Housing Ltd and then proper on-site enquiries by Barry Shipton would have prevented this dangerous situation from arising and putting the lives of their tenants at risk."

(LM/CD)