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Bakers chain Greggs has reportedly been fined more than £50,000 at Isleworth Crown Court in London after a number of serious fire safety breaches were discovered at one of its outlets.

The company was prosecuted by the London Fire Brigade after investigators auditing a Greggs shop in Brentford in 2008 uncovered a number of potentially dangerous problems. Fire safety officers found:

• Corridors and fire escape exits at least partially obstructed by plastic crates
• A fire exit locked with four strong padlocks, therefore making it difficult to escape quickly in an emergency
• A locked security door near to the fire exit

Greggs reportedly received a letter from the London Fire Brigade in January 2009, informing bosses that a review of the company’s fire risk assessments and emergency plans were needed. Also recommended was that the company reviews its policies on appropriate fire safety training for staff.

After pleading guilty to two breaches of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, Greggs has now been fined £50,000 and ordered to pay court costs of £20,326.

Councillor Brian Coleman, the chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority, commented on the case, saying:

“In these tough economic times it is important that companies do not take their eye off the ball when it comes to making their business safe from fire.”