Boiler blunder 'could have blown up house'

GAS LEAK WAS BUILDING UP TO 'EXPLOSIVE LEVEL' IN COUNCIL HOME

- By RUCSANDRA MOLDOVEANU

A FAMILY fear their council house could have exploded because of errors made when the authority fitted a new boiler.

The Sherwood family of eight reported a fault following the work on July 17 and 18, when they smelt gas. When emergency gas workers arrived they evacuated the family from the house for three hours while it cleared.

The mum, who only wished to be referred as Ms James, said the family had lived there for about 24 years. She said: "They told us to not switch anything on or off and opened all the doors and windows until the gas got to a safe level."

They were shocked to be told that, had the gas leak gone on for another 36 hours, the house could have blown up.