Following a horrific accident in which a care home resident died after setting fire to his clothing, investigators discovered a string of fire safety breaches at a Newcastle Care Home which resulted in the care home manager and company which owns the home being fined £20,000.
Breaches included the fire exit being nailed shut and holes in the floor, walls and ceiling which could have allowed for a 'rapid spread of fire'.
The company directors, who were not fined, said "We are currently well above safety standards and our staff work very hard to care for all of our residents".
Councillor Nick Forbes, the Leader of Newcastle Council said the tragedy should serve as a warning to all care homes, but questionned why directors of the company escaped prosecution,but the manager did not.