Birmingham High Court has ruled that a defective Currys fan was the cause of a house fire that left two children with life-changing injuries.

Zayyaan Al-Iqra, now 12, and Zeeshaan, 11, were just toddlers when the Matsui fan heater caught alight and a blaze ripped through their rented home.

Their mother Farida Begum was also in the house at the time of the fire.

She had bought the the Matsui MRHE 1800 Tower Oscillating Fan Heater from a Currys store in Highgate in October 2009.

Farida Begum and her two sons were inside the house when the fire broke out

The August 2011 fire left both her sons with life-changing injuries.

Zayyaan, then aged four, experienced burns across 25 per cent of his body and lost almost all function in both his hands.

Zeeshaan, then three, suffered a hypoxic brain injury as well as burns to his face, ear, hand and thighs.

Mrs Begum launched legal proceedings against Currys alleging that the heater was defective - a claim the company denied.

The fire was caused by a defective Currys heater

Last month Birmingham High Court ruled that the heater was the cause of the fire and that it was defective within the meaning of the Consumer Protection Act 1987.

The ruling comes seven years after the blaze.

The Matsui fan heater left the two toddlers with life-changing injuries

Speaking after the judgment, Ms Begum said: “The fire has dramatically changed our lives. Both of my sons experienced serious injuries that day that continue to require regular hospital appointments and impact their ability to do things that other children their age can do.

"My oldest son cannot ride a bike, for example, because of the injuries he sustained. They have lost confidence and they have missed a lot of school due to the ongoing medical treatment.

“Everything has changed for us all. They need constant care.”

An assessment will now take place to assess the total level of damages owed to the family.

Karl De-Loyde, the serious injury expert at Thompsons Solicitors who acted for the family, said: “We are delighted of course to have secured this judgment, which means the boys can now get financial help with their ongoing rehabilitation and hopefully financial security for life.

Birmingham High Court has ruled that the appliance was defective after a seven-year court battle

"DSG Retail should take a long look at themselves for having delayed the matter for years and forcing the case to trial. The least they can do now is behave with some humanity and ensure compensation is promptly paid.”