Hi Donna There are products available to solve this problem - the simplest being basically spray paint to rejuvenate the coals and fire-back. It is heat resistant. http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PERCY-DOUGHTY-GAS-BLACK-COAL-SPRAY-PAINT-REJUVENATES-FIRE-COALS-300ml-/161477440833?hash=item2598ce3541:g:Pp8AAOSwBP9UXhgt If the coals are really crumbling it is also possible to get replacement coals, you should try to get the same number and shape as the original. Probably the best idea would be to have the gas fire serviced by a local fireplace shop and ask their advice about how to proceed to be on the safe side.

I think we're confusing each other! When i said are you wall mounting? I meant the back panel, not the fire. You say you're having a limestong shelf...........do you mean hearth that sits on the floor. It would be impossible to put a limestone shelf on a wall without support under it. A hearth and back panel set look like this, this is limestone, but comes in different colours. It's very heavy and has to sit on the floor. and....................they are usually finished off with a fire surround the same as the picture that i gave you above and now below. If it's a solid back panel, then you can put the fire on it wherever you like, it doesn't have to sit on the bottom on the hearth like the one above. What you need to look for are Hearth and Back Panel sets. Hope this helps

Just thinking if there anyway of feeding some sort of flexible piping through the existing pipe as the route to both heaters is already there. If that's allowed that is. Thank you.

It is really just a matter of removing the clutter around the grate and giving it a good cleanup. It is quite an interesting feature and will stand well on its own. I would remove all of the objects around it and clear out the grate. The modern stand of tools needs to be replaced with a simple set that matches the style of the fireplace. Not sure what the round item to the left is, but I suspect it might me a lighter of some sort. It and the jug seem to feel comfortable but the rest of the items need to be removed. As suggested above, a careful application of the appropriate blacking will do wonders, but even before that I would call in a chimney sweep to clean the flue and make sure it is in working order. Even if you do not plan to use the fireplace it is a good idea to know what the working status is. I imagine this is meant for coal burning, though I would not take my word on that. I have a gas fire with imitation coals that "burn" quite realistically. You can get them at a fireplace shop and they do indeed look like coal. You could use those if you do not plan to light them, or even use real coal to fill the grate. When I restored my fireplace and set in a coal basket I was lucky to talk to an old fellow who knew just how it should work. If you can't find good advice from a shop or chimney sweep then it would be fun to do do a little research at the library to find out how the fireplace was used and how it should look with proper accessories. I think you will be pleased with the result.