Boxes inside Footlocker were also stacked too close to the store’s water sprinklers, meaning the system could have failed in the event of a fire.

The inspecting officers ordered the store to be closed to customers for around half an hour until the stock was moved to a safe storage place.

Footlocker UK Limited pleaded guilty to the two offences at Sheffield Magistrates Court on Friday 14 December 2007. They were fined £10,000 (£5,000 for each offence) and ordered to pay costs of £1170.14

Richard Taylor, from the Sheffield Fire Safety Team said: “This is another example of a store ordering a large amount of stock but not having the necessary space to store it safely. I am extremely disappointed that Footlocker have flouted fire safety laws, especially because they have been fined before for similar offences.”

Fire Safety Officers from South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue are carrying out store inspections across the region in the run up to Christmas.

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