A builder is serving a community service order for conducting dangerous gas work that posed a serious risk to a Bude pensioner.

Roy Osborne, 54, of Titson, failed to isolate a gas supply when he removed an LPG fire at a rented property in Poughill on behalf of a landlord's agent, meaning gas could have leaked into the property as a result.

He then reinstalled the fire directly onto a carpet without a grate, which created a further fire risk, despite not being Gas Safe registered.

Bodmin Magistrates' Court heard on 5 September that Osborne was contracted during August 2012 by a letting agent to carry out remedial building work to resolve a damp problem at the property.

While he was there the elderly tenant asked him if he could also remove the gas fire grate so she could have a new carpet fitted, and agreed to pay him separately.

The dangerous work was discovered in February 2013 when the landlord employed a Gas Safe registered engineer to conduct an annual gas safety certificate.

Osborne pleaded guilty to three separate breaches of the Gas Safety (Installation and Use) Regulations 1998. He was given a community service order for 180 hours of unpaid work and ordered to pay £448 in costs.

Health & Safety Executive inspector Simon Jones, said: "Roy Osborne's illegal gas work created a real risk of fire and explosion in an elderly lady's home, and the consequences could have been fatal.

"He left a gas pipe inadequately capped for seven days and then a gas fire was fitted directly onto a carpet, both of which are clearly dangerous.

"By law, gas work should only be undertaken by a Gas Safe registered engineer, Osborne undertook this work knowing full well that he wasn't qualified or certified to do so."