Baby scalding death council sued

Rhianna Hardie suffered 95% burns

The family of a 10-month-old baby who died when a water tank burst above her head in a council house is to take legal action against the authority.

Rhianna Hardie received 95% burns at her home in Taunton in November 2006.

Her family is now seeking compensation from Taunton Deane Council, which has passed the claim to its insurance company.

An inquest last week heard the death had been caused by a faulty thermostat in the house's immersion heater.

When the thermostat failed, the water in the immersion tank boiled continuously and vented into the plastic cold water tank, which melted and spilled boiling water over Rhianna's cot.

'Beautiful girl'

An inquest heard a woman was killed in similar circumstances in 2002 - but the government did not warn other authorities about the dangers of faulty thermostats.

Rhianna's parents, Matthew Hardie and Charlene Haworth, said after the inquest that their daughter's death was "completely avoidable" and an "accident waiting to happen".

In a statement read by their solicitor, they said: "Rhianna was our beautiful little girl.

"Never a day goes by when we do not think of her. We will never forget her."

Jason Squire, of Ashford solicitors, said: "I can confirm I've been advising Rhianna's parents about a civil claim against Taunton Deane Borough Council.

"The evidence at the inquest showed the council knew that the thermostats used sometimes fail.

"They knew boiling water could be forced into the cold water tank. They knew the plastic cold water tanks were weak and became soft and unstable.

"We are making a claim against them."