Unsafe gas fire misery for Alan (From Gazette & Herald)

Unsafe gas fire misery for Alan

A SINGLE parent with a chronic chest condition claims fumes put him into hospital every time he turns on the gas fire in his North Yorkshire home.

Since father-of-four Alan Messruther, 40, moved into his Ryedale Housing Association home at Woodlands Grove, Rillington, near Malton, in July, he has been without heating or hot water.

When he turns his fire on to heat the house and the water boiler it releases gases which aggravate his condition, making it difficult for him to breathe.

He is concerned that the gases could include the deadly carbon monoxide, though he has no evidence of that.

"Every time I put that fire on I end up in hospital. It affected my chest so badly it put me in Scarborough Hospital for a week," said Mr Messruther, who lives with his two youngest children, Norton County Primary School pupils Naomi, nine, and Tim, seven.

"It's been hell, not just for me, but for the kids. When I'm in hospital they've got to stay with people in Scarborough to be looked after.

"Tim has learning difficulties. One of his biggest problems is when he sees his dad ill he thinks I'm going to die and gets upset. He doesn't understand." The housing association has sent three different contractors to fix the fire and all condemned it, saying it was too dangerous to use, said Mr Messruther.

He had similar problems at his former house in Abbotts Court, off Scarborough Road, Rillington.

After months of problems, workmen discovered a hole next to his gas fire was leaking fumes.

Duncan Cruickshank, maintenance manager and deputy director of Ryedale Housing Association, said that the fire at Woodlands Grove had been serviced in July, before Mr Messruther moved in.

It was a case of fitting a special flue to draw away the combusting gases which were causing the problem, not fitting a new fire, he said.

"We've ordered a special chimney pot and that should be with us soon. The contractor said he should be able to fit it the same day," said Mr Cruickshank.

He said the Charmwood gas fire was used in many housing association properties and was usually very efficient.

Updated: 12:18 Monday, October 20, 2003