THE TRAGIC deaths from carbon monoxide poisoning of an elderly Burnley woman and her two teenage grandchildren were, an inquest said, "misadventure."

How painfully apt that word is in this case.

For all three died because a tap was left running too long, letting lethal fumes from a gas water heater fill the house.

They did not know the tap should have been on for no longer than five minutes.

A warning label on the gas appliance was worn and illegible.

The trouble was it was second-hand, bought at an auction.

And though correctly fitted and working properly, they were unaware that it lacked a safety cut-off device that all such heaters must now have.

This new regulation, and a forthcoming legal ban on fitting such old-style appliances, may prevent tragedies like this in future.

But the law cannot totally regulate for goods sold at auction or at car boot and jumble sales.

Buyers must beware. Let this tragedy be a lesson when it comes to purchasing second-hand appliances, gas or electric.

They may be cheap, but they may also be deadly. So don't take the risk.

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