A DEALER who sold an unroadworthy caravan with an unsafe gas installation has been fined following an investigation by North Yorkshire Trading Standards.

Anthony Dalziel, of South Milford, North Yorkshire, who trades as A1 Caravans, pleaded guilty at York Magistrates' Court on Tuesday to five offences in connection with the sale of an Elddis Tornado XL caravan.

Dalziel also pleaded guilty to offences of charging £80 for a caravan service which had not taken place, not providing the business name and address on documentation and restricting the consumers’ rights by stating on the invoice that the caravan was sold without warranty.

County council trading standards officers began the investigation after receiving a complaint from a couple who bought the caravan from the dealer last summer.

An engineer instructed by trading standards to examine the caravan declared that it was unroadworthy having found that it had an insecure tow hitch, an insecure door frame, unsuitable tyres, did not have a breakaway cable, and could not be fitted with an appropriate number plate.

The LPG gas cooker supply in the caravan was also inspected by an engineer and was found to have a leak which was condemned as "immediately dangerous".

Dalziel was fined a total of £1,400 and ordered to pay prosecution costs of £1,153 and compensation of £1,975.

North Yorkshire County Councillor Andrew Lee, portfolio holder for trading standards, said: “It is wholly unacceptable that a caravan which was both unroadworthy and had an unsafe gas supply was sold to this couple.

“Our trading standards service will always take action to ensure residents and others buying goods and services in North Yorkshire can do so safely.”

Consumers can report concerns about motor vehicle/caravan dealers or obtain advice from the Citizens Advice Consumer Service on 03454 04 05 06.