Government 'told of scald danger'

Rhianna Hardie suffered 85% burns in the incident

Faults in a type of water tank which exploded killing a baby girl were not passed on by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, an inquest heard.

Health and safety inspector David Cory said he notified the government of the fault when a woman was killed in 2002.

But a hearing into the death of Rhianna Hardie in Taunton, Somerset, was told that the warning was not passed on to other local authorities.

Rhianna, who was aged 10 months, was scalded to death in November 2006.

The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister no longer exists.

A spokesman for the department of Communities and Local Government later told the BBC: "This is clearly a tragic incident and our sympathies are with the family of the victim - we cannot comment further on the inquiry into this specific case as it is still ongoing.

In my mind, I tried very hard to get the information into the public domain David Cory

"As we announced last year, we are conducting a review on the safety of hot water systems in the home and will consult shortly on a potential strengthening of safety rules included in building regulations."

Mr Cory said he had investigated a similar incident in Penzance, Cornwall, in 2002 and reported the fault to the government office.

Sharon Minster, 30, was killed when a tank of boiling water burst in the room above her bed.

Mr Cory said that his report to the government office had been his way of attempting to communicate the fault to authorities across the country.

Barrister Dr Michael Powers QC said to him: "It must have crossed your mind that other housing associations or funded accommodation should be made aware of the circumstances of the accident.

"Did you see the communication with the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister as a means by which you and the Health and Safety Executive hoped the [Penzance] incident was disseminated to the offices of associations and authorities elsewhere?"

Mr Cory answered: "In my mind, I tried very hard to get the information into the public domain."

Baby Rhianna died when scalding water gushed over her cot after the tank exploded in the attic of her council home in Taunton on 19 November 2006.

Her parents Matthew Hardie and Charlene Haworth were spending their first night in the house in Wellington Road.

Both Rhianna and her two-year-old sister Emily were put to bed in the room below the attic where the system was kept.

The parents took Rhianna to Musgrove Park Hospital for treatment but she died three weeks later at Bristol Children's Hospital.

The jury is expected to be sent out to reach a verdict on Thursday.