The new Home Office's safety advert about chip pan fires

The government is warning that late-night fry-ups cause many of the 46 deaths a year from chip-pan fires.

More than 4,600 people were injured when they tried to make chips last year, with more than 30% of the injuries happening between 10pm and 4am.

According to the figures, men are twice as likely to be hurt as women when making chips.

Devastating

Tests in Kent last year showed that half of all the people who died in fires were twice over the drink-drive limit.

A £1.5m government campaign to cut the number of chip-pan fires is being launched by Home Secretary Jack Straw and chef Antony Worrall Thompson.

"It's a sad fact that many chip-pan fire casualties are caused by late-night cooking while drunk," said Mark Bennett of the Health Education Authority, which is backing the campaign.

The BBC's Susannah Reid discusses the dangers of chip pan fires with Simon Smith and Antony Worrel-Thompson

TV advertisements, leaftlets and posters have all been produced showing people how to handle chip-pan fires safely.

"Chip-pan fires are the single largest cause of casualties in house fires. They are devastating in their effects on human lives and damage to property," said Mr Straw.

"This campaign will bring the message home that chip-pans can hurt, maim or kill if they are not used with proper care and attention."

Takeaway

Marcus Deacon, whose foster brother Paul Coleman died aged 24 after a late-night fry-up at his home in Wheatley, Oxfordshire, appealed to people not to drink and fry late at night.

He said: "If you are going to eat, you shouldn't be doing any cooking at that time of night after having been down the pub.

"Get a takeaway or make a sandwich - don't start making anything that could cause a fire if you fall asleep."

A pilot of the campaign in Lancashire led to the number of chip-pan fires falling by a quarter and the number of injuries by half with no deaths reported.