A FINAL appeal has gone out to council house tenants to set a date for their annual gas safety inspections - or face going to court.

Officers from Stockton Borough Council have tried without success to enter some properties to carry out free inspections to heating systems and gas fires.

The council now plans to go to court to ask for warrants to gain access to the houses. If they are granted, the council will enter the homes concerned and cut off the gas supply to all heating appliances.

Tenants who have received notification of pending court action in relation to these inspections and those whose homes have not been checked in the past year, are asked to contact (01642) 393616 as soon as possible.

If the council has to take legal action, affected tenants will lose the gas supply to their heating appliances and will be liable for all court costs, which could run into several hundred pounds.