Safety test finds faulty blankets

Two thirds of electric blankets brought to a special testing event in Northamptonshire failed a routine safety inspection.

Trading standards officers in Daventry examined 98 blankets and 59 were deemed dangerous mainly due to faults with the overheating prevention system.

Northamptonshire County Council and Age Concern, the event organisers, replaced faulty blankets free of charge.

Four unsafe blankets had been recalled by the manufacturer on safety grounds.

Three-year checks

Cabinet member for community safety Liz Tavener said: "This was a very valuable event as the results so clearly show. It is so important that people have their electric blankets tested.

"As the winter approaches and the temperature drops, many people will be turning to their electric blankets to keep them warm, unaware that it could be dangerous to simply plug it in."

Earlier this month an elderly woman died in a fire stated by a faulty electric blanket at a house in Gayton, near Blisworth.

A Northamptonshire trading standards spokesman said: "Electric blankets should be checked by a qualified technician every three years for signs of wear or damage.

"Government figures show that fires caused by defective electric blankets have a high rate of injury and most of the casualties are aged over 60."