A gas hob was so dangerously fitted in a new kitchen that it could have caused a fatality, a court heard.

Heat from the cooker could have melted an illegally-used plastic pipe and caused a leak.

The fitting at a house in Wardle Crescent, Keighley, was so poor it was at the top of the danger scale and classified "immediately dangerous", Bingley magistrates were told.

Geoff Harper, 55, of Marriner Walk, Keighley, pleaded guilty to being in control of the installation but failing to ensure the person he employed to carry out the work was properly qualified as Corgi registered.

He was fined £3,500 and ordered to pay £3,800 costs after the prosecution was brought by the Health and Safety Executive.

Prosecutor, Andrew Cameron said Harper had been employed to fit a kitchen by Lynne Miller at a price of £6,000.

Part of the way through the job, Harper ceased working.

Unable to contact him, Mrs Miller employed another man in February to finish the work.

"It was at this time that the issues of the installation of the gas hob were detected," Mr Cameron explained.

"Those problems had gone unnoticed for at least two months during which time Mrs Miller had used the hob on a number of occasions.

"A Corgi gas fitter was called in and found the gas installation unsafe and disconnected it."

He said Harper failed to give details of the person who had carried out the fitting and on June 12 this year, HSE served a prohibition notice on Harper not to undertake further gas work.

Keith Blackwell, for Harper, said his client was unable to give details of the fitter because he had sub-contracted the work to another man, whom he believed was now working in Amsterdam, and he had employed the fitter.

"This has come as a shock and a sadness to him because he has worked in the trade for several decades and he has never broken building trade laws," said Mr Blackwell.