CAMERON House has apologised for its failings that led to the fire deaths of two men.

The high-end hotel, which had a turnover of more than £40million while they ignored repeated safety warnings about keeping kindling and newspapers in a cupboard off the lobby, was fined £500,000 today at Dumbarton Sheriff Court.

Nobody from the hotel was present in court for sentencing after the company pleaded guilty. A night porter who they failed to train and for whom they offered no written procedures for emptying ash from open fireplaces, was sentenced to 300 hours of unpaid work for putting ash in a plastic bag in that cupboard.

The hotel admitted the fire "should never have happened".

A rebuilt hotel is set to open later this year - without the two open fires and with extensive additional fire safety measures.

The families of Simon Midgley and Richard Dyson, who died of smoke inhalation and fire gases in the fire of December 17, 2017, were too upset to speak after the punishments were given by Sheriff William Gallacher.

Read more: Hotel's owners fined £500k for blaze that killed two guests

In a statement, a Cameron House spokesperson said: "Firstly, we wish to underline our deepest sympathies towards the families of Mr Dyson and Mr Midgley.

"They have conducted themselves with dignity and bravery at all times and we once again unreservedly apologise to them for our part in the failings which led to this terrible tragedy.

"This awful accident should never have happened and, as we have made clear throughout the court process, our plea reflects a full acceptance of our part in the sequence of events leading to the fire, which had such devastating consequences.

“Nothing can ever atone for the losses which the Midgley and Dyson families have endured.

"However, in redesigning and reconstructing the hotel, we have incorporated a comprehensive range of fire safety measures which include a modern ‘water mist’ fire suppression system throughout the entire building, a full fire detection and alarm system, strictly compartmentalised floors and fire-rated walls in every bedroom.”