A NIGHTCLUB has been fined almost £22,000 after a woman's hair caught fire from a candle in February, last year.

The Moko Lounge Nightclub in Harrogate was prosecuted after it was alleged that a woman suffered burns to her hair, face and neck, from a candle placed on a table.

Investigating, a fire inspector visited the nightclub and found that the firm's use of candles had not been risk assessed, and that the company did not have "defined control measures" to protect people from them.

It also found that the woman's hair had been on fire for 12 seconds, which resulted in the burns.

The firm in charge of the nightclub, Moko Lounge Ltd, was prosecuted and ordered to pay fines totalling £21,962 for the fire safety breach on the night.

Prosecuting, the magistrate said that he was surprised that the firm had not removed the candles from the nightclub after the incident, and had to be removed by the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service.

The Magistrate said that the firm had also not adhered to its own policy and reviewed the fire safety risk assessment every 12 months.

Dave Winspear of North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said: “We brought this prosecution against Moko Lounge Ltd because we were of the view that this unfortunate incident was both foreseeable and avoidable.

"Despite there being a risk assessment in place it had not referenced the presence of candles being used in the nightclub and therefore no control measures to protect the public and staff were put in place.”

A fire spokesperson added: "We would like to remind business owners that it is important that they are aware of the legislative requirements they need to comply with including have a suitable and sufficient risk assessment."