Rhianna's family urge law change

Rhianna Hardie's parents said her death was a "foreseeable tragedy"

Rhianna Hardie's parents have called for a change in the law to stop faulty thermostats from causing more deaths.

Matthew Hardie and Charlene Haworth stood by solicitor Jason Squire as he read their statement on the steps of Taunton Shire Hall on Thursday.

It said their 10-month-old daughter's death in a water tank explosion was "completely avoidable".

Mr Squire read: "The importance now is that steps are taken to prevent a similar tragedy ever happening again."

He went on: "The inquest has shown how the council relied upon its tenants to tell them when thermostats failed - without saying what we should look for or what to do.

"The expert evidence was that this was a totally foreseeable tragedy.

"How electric thermostats in domestic hot water systems with a five to 10-year lifespan can be installed on a fit-and-forget basis is an outrage.

"We repeat the coroner's call for a change in the law requiring old electric thermostats in domestic hot water systems to be replaced with failsafe devices."

'Rare occurrence'

Terry Rose, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) director for Wales and the South West of England, also read out a statement outside coroner's court.

He said: "All incidents involving children are particularly tragic. I cannot imagine the pain experienced by Rhianna's parents.

"My personal sympathy and that of HSE staff involved is genuinely with them. The Penwith case which was referred to during the inquest was to our knowledge, the first and only other case involving a fatality.

"In 2002, we considered that the specific circumstances arising in that incident were a very rare occurrence and we believe that we acted sensibly and proportionately in our follow-up action."

In a statement, Taunton Deane Borough Council said it had nearly completed the installation of new thermostats in 4,680 homes.

It added: "There are lessons to be learned in these sad facts for all local authorities, housing associations and private sector landlords."