Top-quality workers who have completed a gas training course could find their services increasingly in demand after an engineer and two landlords were fined a total £19,000 for putting two lives at risk.

According to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), two proprietors in Southampton - Robert and David Watts - ignored warnings that a boiler in one of their properties needed servicing for four years.

In addition, the property's gas service engineer David MacDonald declared the appliance safe to use three times when it was not - it eventually led to tenant Motoko Riley and daughter Emily suffering from sever carbon monoxide poisoning.

Commenting after the men were fined, HSE inspector Ray Kelly said: "This case shows that it is vitally important for landlords to understand and act upon their responsibilities around gas safety."

This follows the prosecution of Ryan Thorpe, who carried out various illegal gas jobs in West Yorkshire in 2009.

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