A MOT and service centre in Netherton has been handed a court bill of almost £5,000 after a motorhome it had serviced caught fire on the motorway.

Dudley Council’s trading standards team led the prosecution of Simms Lane-based Jennings MOT Center Ltd at Dudley Magistrates Court on January 3.

The centre had carried out a service to the rear brakes and bearings of the Fiat 130 motorhome, but when the vehicle was being driven on the M42 the driver experienced problem so stopped on the slip road.

Minutes later the rear left wheel became detached from the vehicle and the motorhome caught fire. The fire service were called and had to partially close the motorway.

The fire service concluded that the cause of the fire was friction and heat build-up in the wheel or brakes.

The motorhome was later examined by an independent vehicle examiner who found that the left rear wheel hub nut hadn’t been secured properly, causing the bearing to become loose and overheat, causing a fire and the loss of the wheel. The council said it was a result of “poor workmanship” by the repairer.

The company and its two directors, Taseem Farooq and Waqar Farooq, pleaded guilty to offences and was fined a total of £2,000 as well as ordered to pay £520 costs and a £220 victim surcharge.

The two directors were fined £500 each, and both were ordered to pay £520 costs and £50 victim surcharge.

Magistrates said that the failure could have had far more serious consequences.

Following the case, Councillor Peter Miller, cabinet member for health and wellbeing, said: “The safety of all road users is important to the council and this incident could have been much worse, which is why the work of the trading standards team is so important.

“Our officers regularly investigate complaints regarding the servicing of motor vehicles, particularly where that work has left the vehicle in a dangerous condition.

“We will not hesitate to take action against traders who put lives a risk by returning vehicles to customers in a condition which would involve a danger of injury to the driver or other road users.”