Victory for anti-scald campaign

Holly Devonport received burns to 55% of her body when she fell into a bath.

A campaign to reduce injuries caused by scalding in the bath has helped make a change to building regulations.

From October all baths in new bathrooms must have a thermostat that stops water temperatures going above 48C.

The campaign featured Wakefield girl Holly Devonport, 13, who suffered 55% burns in the bath when she was five.

The Hot Water Burns Like Fire campaign was supported by several different partners including Wakefield MP Mary Creagh and the Pinderfields burns unit.

Actress Amanda Redman and Help the Aged also supported the campaign which started in 2006.

The standard temperature for a hot water tank is 60C which can cause scalds almost as severe as those from petrol ignition.

'Permanent disfigurement'

According to the British Burns Association (BBA) every year about 600 people suffer severe bathwater scalds and about 20 cases are fatal.

Dr Keith Judkins of the BBA said: "These types of injuries cause misery and can cause permanent disfigurement."

Holly's mother, Julie Dunphy, described how her daughter had been sat on the side of the bath while she went to get pyjamas and towels.

Holly slipped in and was scalded from the waist down and on her arm and hand, and is permanently scarred.

Ms Dunphy said she was "really pleased" that the regulations had gone through.