Blaze care home owners in court

The nursing home where the elderly residents died

The owners of a Lanarkshire care home where 14 elderly people died after a fire last year have appeared in court.

Thomas Balmer, 58, his wife Anne, 57, and son Alan, 32, all from Bothwell, were charged with breaches of health and safety legislation.

The charges related to a fire in the Rosepark Home in Uddingston on 31 January 2004.

They appeared in private at Hamilton Sheriff Court. Thomas Balmer also appeared on a charge of fraud.

All three were committed for further examination and granted bail.

'Legal process'

The blaze was one of the worst tragedies in Scotland in recent years.

A small but "intense" fire broke out in a top floor linen cupboard in the home in the early hours of the morning and generated a lot of smoke.

Ten people were killed at the home and four died in hospital over the next two days.

In a statement Mr Balmer said: "We welcome the opportunity to answer the charges laid before us.

"After such a long and agonising period for the families of the victims, the staff and ourselves, it is in everyone's interest to bring this matter to a conclusion.

"We are confident that the legal process will be able to establish the facts surrounding this terrible tragedy."