Aldgate Construction Company demands over £300,000 for heating firm's alleged negligence

A Bedfordhsire construction company is demanding compensation after its property was destroyed by fire.

Aldgate Construction Company has requested damages of more than £300,000 from Unibar Plumbing and Heating following a blaze in Bedfordshire, March 2005.

A High Court writ claims a Unibar employee began the fire while resoldering a leaky pipe work to a radiator. His blowtorch is believed to have ignited insulation panels or other combustible materials in the roof void.

Aldgate has accused Unibar of breach of contract and negligence, claiming the fire started because the employee failed to carry out the work with reasonable skill and care.