A COMPANY was fined £5,000 yesterday after it admitted supplying a dangerous fireplace which almost killed a toddler.

The three-year-old girl was left on a life support machine after the insecure mantelpiece and fire surround broke away from a wall as she played in the living room of her Darlington home.

The full 50-kilo weight crashed down on the youngster, causing her severe chest and head injuries.

Yesterday, Old Bond Ltd, of Reed Street, Hartlepool, was ordered to pay £4,358 costs by Darlington magistrates in addition to the fine.

The decorative mantelpiece and stone surround had been sold to the girl's mother for £988, and was supplied and fitted by The Reproduction Centre, of Yarm Road, Darlington, part of Old Bond.

It was glued to the wall with a gypsum-based adhesive, rather than firmly fitted brackets, leading to the near-tragedy on February 11.

Yvonne Rennard, representing Darlington trading standards, told the court: "The product was not safe and it was reasonably foreseeable that children may reach up to gain access to things on the mantelpiece."

Old Bond managing director Eric Crawford represented the company at the hearing. The court heard that it had an "unblemished record" until the accident.

Following the incident, it had contacted all customers within 24 hours.

The company no longer uses the adhesive fitting method.

The girl was on a hospital ventilator for three weeks before returning home.