27/10/2006 - Photo story: Who are you sleeping with tonight?

Thousands of Cumbrians could be getting into bed tonight with a potential killer.

Nearly half all of electric blankets currently used by households in the county could be dangerous.

This frightening statistic is based on the results of safety tests carried out by Cumbria County Council’s Trading Standards Department in eight separate locations across the county between 18-22 September and 9-13 September.

The tests saw Trading Standards Officers joining forces with Age Concern and other voluntary groups to offer free checks and replace defective blankets at specially created testing stations in Barrow, Cleator Moor, Penrith, Workington, Carlisle, Kendal, Appleby, Grange-over-Sands, Brampton and Whitehaven.

Out of the 1,026 blankets tested in this year’s exercise, 483 failed. Pictured are just some of the potentially lethal electric blankets surrendered for disposal after failing the checks.

Geoff Hodgson, Cumbria County Council spokesman for Community Safety says:

"Faulty electric blankets cause around 5,000 fires in UK homes and the danger lurking under people’s mattresses often goes un-noticed for years.

“Faulty electric blankets present a very real risk of causing house fires and personal injury, often to the most vulnerable people.”

“If blankets are not correctly maintained and regularly checked for faults, a tragedy could strike at any time. 99 per cent of blanket fires are believed to have involved blankets that are over ten years old. I would advise anyone owning a blanket that old to throw it away.”

ENDS

Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337