The importance of hotels and bed and breakfast accommodation having adequate fire detection systems has been confirmed by a South Hams court.

Totnes Magistrates' Court has upheld an enforcement notice issued by fire safety officers on a Torcross bed and breakfast that required the owner to install a fire detection system which linked the fire detectors in all the rooms.

The owner of the Leyburn establishment in Torcross had appealed against the enforcement notice issued by the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service.

In the first appeal of its kind in the counties, Totnes magistrates upheld the enforcement notice at a hearing held on August 13 and 14.

Fire safety officers had felt it necessary for the bed and breakfast to make improvements to its fire safety arrangements as set out in the Government's published guidance for sleeping accommodation and this was supported in the magistrates' judgement.

Graham Jackson, community safety protection manager for the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service, said: "This decision by Totnes Magistrates' Court was welcome confirmation of the importance of a suitable and sufficient Fire Safety Risk Assessment being correctly carried out by the responsible person.

"It is of critical fire safety importance in premises providing sleeping accommodation, to have a system of early warning for all occupants through an inter-connected fire detection system."