The enforcing authority on Local Authority activities is the HSE. See http://tinyurl.com/bfclxog which sets out the powers of LA inspectors and their limitations under "Health and safety (enforcing authority) regulations 1998"

I'm not sure where FOS comes into this but the FSA have the power to enforce. Write to them, I suggest. At the moment it seems FSA website is down.

TS got in touch today. I've sent photos of the blackened bits. TS will forward copies with a letter to the "home authority" officer who deals with Morphy Richards directly. That's what I wanted. MR on toast, and something on record:)

We seem to be misunderstanding what was requested:) I think I made it clear it was not detail I wanted from CD or TS. Just the process, a phone number and whether to keep the kettle for examination, which means a delay getting or attempting to get, a refund from the retailer. I'll post if anything develops locally.

Maybe I chose the wrong word - "discuss" - it was just to find a contact number to avoid getting into a loop and an explanation of the process. CD must surely know the process. When I got through to TS reception were helpful about the next steps. No need to explore the merits of the issue, which is for the TS officer. It might well be a one-off, but ignoring all events stymies data collection. Maybe that is why MR didn't want to know:)

I'm sure what you say is correct but an intelligence-led approach has to take into account the strength of the evidence. If TS decide not to take action, having seen the product, fair enough. But they can't take any action, or even make a sensible comment to MR, if they don't evaluate the evidence. Before seeking a refund from the retailer, I wanted to explore whether TS would want the parts to look at. The simplest way would be to speak to TS direct!I haven't yet heard from TS, but will hold off other steps re the retailer, for a while. My main issue was that CD were strangely unwilling to discuss the main issue, and to countenance that a punter might want to speak with TS on the product safety side. BTW, I have taken more than 100 prosecutions, on unconnected criminal matters. Hence SOGA advice was not needed, as I made clear.

My first post re an issue for me! Aim is to vent 1. re (Morphy Richards) MR lack of interest 2. re Consumer Direct obstructive approach! Kettle: Morphy Richards Opera model 43652, purchased June 2006. makers Warranty 2 years, so that aspect irrelevant. On Saturday 28/3 the kettle started to make a loud roaring noise shortly after I switched it on, filled to at least 1 l. I saw arcing and smoke and I ran back to switch it off at the wall. Smoke blackened base of kettle and small area of melted plastic on the base unit. I phoned Consumer Direct to mention the event: they advised re SOGA and said they would refer the issue of safety to local Trading Standards (TS). On Monday 30/3 I phoned MR "helpline" to explain what had happened. I said I would deal with the retailer on the SOGA aspect, so not an issue for MR. First priority to me was the potential for a serious fire. I asked what they would wish me to do: e.g return the product for examination. They said they did not want to have it, or to investigate. I said that I was surprised at this, but the contact was adamant. I called CD again, and explained my concern. I wanted to be able to speak to Trading Standards to ascertain what they advised. If they wanted to investigate the cause, I would retain the product. CD told me they acted in partnership with TS, and that they had notified the local TS. Nothing further was proposed. They would not release a contact number for TS. Having had dealings with TS in Lancashire I knew the score to some extent. After some Kafkaesque time wasting (ring TS - get referred back to the CD number) I managed to get another contact number and spoke to TS reception. Quite reasonably they explained that if CD had referred the issue to them, a TS officer might well be in touch. Give them 3 days but hold the product for them to examine if required. CD seemed fixated on SOGA and could not grasp the priority was consumer safety. Possibly not scripted to deal with such matters - but the whole business seemed more to do with fending off concerns than dealing with them. Will update on anything of possible interest, but also grateful for comments of others with similar frustrations!

I think you meant that Diesels actually run with a leaner fuel/air ratio: there is no throttle. The combustion is much more complete and CO is very low compared to petrol engines.

CO from a diesel is pretty small in comparison to petrol. I suppose it could be a petrol-engined taxi, but these are rather rare. Maybe the OP could return and clarify?

Your Honda garage may be able to interrogate the ECU. There can be a trace of engine history, IIRC. Pity you didn't check the mileage/ before they got their greasy mitts on it. Possibly been used as the garage hack.....

What is it that makes some people blame other road users for delays, when the main cause of delays is.....cars. Not horses, bikes, tractors, buses but miles of stationary cars in line. Not a lot of point trying to drive at high speed when at the next village, the serious hold-ups begin and the average speed is horse and cart era!