HUNDREDS of council homes in the Taunton and Wellington area are to undergo strict checks in the aftermath of a horrific accident which caused the death of a baby.

Rhianna Hardie, who was ten months old, was scalded by boiling water when a tank in the loft burst as she slept in her cot in the family's council home in Wellington Road, Taunton.

The Health & Safety Executive has now slapped an Improvement Notice on Taunton Deane Council following last November's incident.

Rhianna died the following month.

Her grandmother Sue Hardie said: "It's about time they did this after what has happened.

"It's too late for us - noth ing's going to bring back Rhianna - but it's good that they're doing something ab- out it so we can avoid ano- ther tragedy like the one we have been through."

And Rhianna's aunt Emma Sulsh said she was angry the checks were not carried out before the accident.

"It makes you so mad - if they'd done this before, this tragedy may never have hap pened."

Rhianna's parents, Matt Hardie and Charlie Haworth, who have another daughter, Emily, two, declined to comment.

A council spokeswoman said that the authority had reviewed its 4,680 properties since the accident - 500 homes had been checked and work carried out on 280.

She said: "The incident remains a tragic accident and our first thoughts are with the family in light of this latest information.

"The council has worked alongside the HSE ever since the accident occurred and will continue to do so, but we are considering our options following the issue of the notice."

She said all council systems "comply with current legislation", adding: "We welcome any findings that will make sure an accident like this never happens again either here or anywhere in the country."

An HSE spokeswoman said: "The notice requires the council to undertake action in relation to hot water systems at other similar council properties to verify that they comply with the relevant safety standards."

*Hundreds of people sent messages via our website and the Somerset County Gazette of hope and sympathy to the Hardie family after we exclusively revealed details of Rhianna's brave fight for life and her death.