Glasgow Sheriff Court was told the danger came to light three years ago, when the flat owner’s ten-year-old son suffered headaches.

The 30-year-old mother, who was pregnant with her second child, suspected the gas fire in her living room was responsible and asked a friend, who was a registered Gas Safe engineer, to check it.

He found the chimney had been removed and debris from the demolished chimney had accumulated behind the fire. The fire was condemned and an investigation was launched.

Morris and Spottiswood had carried out renovation work on the block of flats, where there was a mix of owner-occupiers and tenants for the Glasgow Housing Association.

The project, which started in September 2008, included the removal of redundant chimneys to reduce future maintenance costs.

The firm subcontracted the work to remove the chimneys, but  failed to provide sufficient direction and supervision to the trade contractor.

The court was told that the flat was visited at various times in early 2009 by a Morris & Spottiswood site foreman, a client-tenant liaison officer and a gas engineer to check the appliances when the householder’s partner was home, but he, the partner, said he was not told the chimney was to be removed.

The foreman had recorded that there was an electric fire in the property, when in fact it was a gas fire that was in the living room.

HSE Inspector Helen Diamond, said: “It was Morris & Spottiswood Ltd’s decision to remove the chimney at this property, based on checks made by a site supervisor who had no specific trade.

“A young family was needlessly put at risk because the company fell considerably short in its duties as principal contractor.

“It failed to ensure a competent person was employed to determine whether properties had a gas or electric fire and then failed to provide sufficient information, instruction, training and supervision to the sub-contractor.”