Asda fined for fire safety breach

• Asda supermarket has been ordered to pay more than £55,000 in fines and costs after breaching fire safety rules at its Slough store.

Reading Crown Court heard two fire exits were repeatedly chained and padlocked over a 10 month period.

Royal Berkshire Fire Authority brought two charges following an inspection at the store in June 2010.

Asda admitted the two charges and was fined £20,000 per charge and ordered to pay more than £15,500 in costs.

A fire authority spokesman speaking after the hearing said the inspection uncovered a number of safety breaches including locked fire exits, obstruction of fire escape routes and combustible items blocking exit doors.

In a statement an Asda spokeswoman said the court had recognised the supermarket's "good safety record" in its 544 stores.

She added: "Two years ago a junior manager at the Slough store did not follow the same rules that thousands of other Asda workers follow up and down the country each day.

"This individual no longer works at the store or for Asda.

"The store has passed a number of fire safety audits since 2010 and continues to work hard to keep its customers safe and sound."

Posted by BBC News.