Tumble dryer blaze warning

The fire service is urging people to subscribe to its safety sign-up plea and receive alerts when faulty electrical products are recalled.

Figures for South Yorkshire show that officers have attended 117 house fires involving tumble dryers since 2011.

Faults with the appliances were responsible for three-quarters of the incidents.

Last year a major product recall was issued across the country and owners of large air-vented dryers and condensing dryers under the Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda brands were told they may need to have them fixed.

The head of community safety in South Yorkshire, Trevor Bernard, said: “Registering an appliance ensures you receive important safety messages about the item you possess.

“For consumers, we know that returning a recalled product is not always convenient, especially if it’s an item that you use every day, but recall notices are issued to keep people safe.

“The small inconvenience of returning a recalled item is worth it when you consider that faulty products can electrocute or cause a fire.”

Manufacturers are required by law to notify people if they know one of their products poses a fire risk and needs to be recalled for safety reasons.

But millions of faulty products remain in people’s homes.

More than 300 different electrical items have been recalled across the country since 2011.

You can find out whether an electrical product you own has been recalled via the Electrical Safety Council website at www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/product-recalls/

Alternatively, sign up for product recall information updates to be sent to you directly at www.registermyappliance.org.uk website.