A NEW gas fire shop claims it is £100,000 out of pocket after being forced to delay opening because contractors failed to connect it to the gas mains.

Gas pipeline firm Transco promised to have John Bain Fireplaces on the Okus Trading Estate connected by October 22.

But after a catalogue of false starts and delays, up until yesterday, all Transco had managed to do was dig a trench 20 metres long, putting the shop's car park out of action.

The delays have meant the company losing out on lucrative pre-Christmas trading. It also contravenes a gas industry guideline which states new customers should wait no longer than three weeks for a connection.

After enquiries from the Advertiser, Transco's contractor First Connect finally started work yesterday bringing it forward a week from its latest planned start date of December 17. The company has admitted to being at fault by apologising unreservedly to John Bain Fireplaces.

Connection manager Andy Grew described the delays as unprecedented and said an internal investigation has been launched to ensure it does not happen again.

John Bain financial controller, Paul Newman, said: "We were hoping to open on October 25 and the run-up to Christmas should have been our busiest time.

"It's a pretty poor service considering we are actually selling fires which use their product. We don't seem to be getting anywhere in terms of being kept informed and I've already paid for the service up front.

"We've been trying to recruit people in Swindon but we can't do that until the shop opens."

He added: "It's only because of the press interest that's finally got them going.

"It's just been a complete disaster."

Supplier British Gas has lodged a formal complaint with Transco.

British Gas spokeswoman Sharon Callaghan said: "We are very sorry this has happened but we have been frustrated in trying to sort this out because it's been a fault with Transco rather than with us."

Diary of delays

September 18: John Bain Fireplaces first contacts British Gas to enquire about getting connected.

September 26: Pipeline company Transco comes back with a quote for British Gas for £377 to carry out the work.

October 1: John Bain financial controller Paul Newman agrees to the quote and pays the fee. Transco promises that the work will be done by October 22.

October 22: Contractor First Connect, which works for Transco, turns up at the wrong address and the work is put back to November 19.

November 19: No-one turns up.

December 4: Contractors arrive, dig a 20-metre long ditch across the car park and then leave.

December 10: The Evening Advertiser contacts British Gas and First Connect finally starts work on the new gas connection. John Bain Fireplaces now hope to open for the start of the New Year.