Residents in Longtown and Bewcastle will be able to swap their chip pan for a new deep fat fryer in a bid to reduce fires in the home.
The neighbourhood forum for the area has made funding available for 36 deep fat fryers. Residents will be able to trade in their chip pans on a first come first served basis at the next forum meeting at Longtown Community Centre on Wednesday 29th June at 7.30pm.
Cumbria County Council's Fire Service will also be giving a chip pan fire demonstration outside the community centre and will be on hand to talk about fire safety in the home.
County councillor Geoff Prest, chairman of the forum said:
"The forum has made funding available to buy these deep fat fryers to encourage residents to get rid of their old chip pans. Chip pans can be very dangerous and the vast majority of injuries from fire in the home are caused by using them. There will be someone from the Fire Service at the meeting to highlight the dangers of using chip pans in the home and advise residents on how they can stay safe."
Normal grant applications will also be considered at the meeting. Anyone interested in applying for funding through the forum should contact the county council's area support team in Carlisle on 01228 606317 or check out www.cumbria.gov.uk/neighbourhoodforums.