A CARE home manager who silenced a fire alarm during a blaze has been convicted of a safety breach.

Karen Sykes, 41, of Brooklands Road, Sale, appeared before Manchester Crown Court under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005 following a fire at Oldfield Bank Residential Care Home in Highgate Road, Altrincham.

The court heard how fire broke out in May 2010 when Sykes was duty manager.

The fire alarm went off at about 6pm, the alarm was silenced but Sykes failed to ensure that a proper search of the premises was carried out.

A fire was later discovered in room 25 and a 999 call was made at about 7.15pm.

The alarm was discovered in ‘silence’ mode when crew from Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service arrived to tackle the blaze.

Elderly resident Enid West died following the fire and an inquest into her death is scheduled to be heard in April.

In sentencing Sykes, who was fined £500, Judge Justice Lakin said: "My duty is clear. I have to apply the law. As the manager of the care home it was Sykes responsibility for the fire alarm and evacuation.”

Fire alarm engineer Christopher Morris, 56, of Llandudno, North Wales, has already been sentenced in relation to the same incident and was fined £5,000, was ordered to pay £6,000 prosecution costs.