A woman has been left devastated after being told by the local council that she must remove the fireplace from her front room.
The homeowner, named only as Mrs Jenner, 47, from Tiverton in Devon, said it was 'nonsense' and she would 'rather die' than lose the feature.
The council is trying to encourage tenants to move to a "more suitable alternative to solid fuel".
Mrs Jenner said: "They want to take the fireplace out because I haven't got a back burner anymore, but that's nonsense as they have also put a ventilation fan in my front room.
"I have phoned chimney sweeps who have said they can clear it out and that the back boiler is still usable.
"If I was on the dole or I had kids on my own, or I was Eastern European, no doubt they would let me keep the fireplace. Why should I give up my fireplace?"
Mrs Jenner had an operation two years ago, after which the doctor gave her 25 years to live, according to Devon Live .
"I told the council last year I'd rather die than lose my fireplace," she added.
Having lived in the property in the past 24 years, Mrs Jenner said the fireplace brought back many memories of her father, who loved sitting by the fire, making toast and cooking marshmallows before he died.
She was also confused as she claimed that she "doesn't get anything from the council" and both she and her husband are working.
Council cirector of operations, Andrew Pritchard said: "The housing service is committed to ensuring all our homes are safe, meet the decent homes standard and wherever possible minimise the impact on the environment.
"The many alternatives to solid fuel available to the tenant all offer a safer and more suitable alternative to solid fuel."
