Risk Management

Roofing Contractors Face £5 Million Court Battle After Fire

The widow of one of the country's leading collectors of rare books is suing two contractors for more than £5 million after a fire wrecked their stately home.

Flames tore through 400 year old Manor, destroying the roof and much of the interior just weeks after a heating services contractor carried out boiler maintenance and a separate company provided chimney repair works.

The companies are being sued for more than 1,200 times their combined original final bills of £260 and £3,800 respectively.

It is alleged the fire started after hot gases or flammable materials from the manors boiler escaped through holes in its chimney and ignited timbers in the roof.

February 2008