Sweeps discuss chimney safety

Fire safety is the key topic this weekend at a conference attended by 200 chimney sweeps in Northamptonshire.

Their trade association is holding its annual conference in Daventry.

Martin Glynn from the National Association of Chimney Sweeps said his Victorian predecessors would recognise many aspects of the job today.

"We have high tech equipment when needed but the tried and tested brush methods of sweeping chimneys are still the most effective."

He added that soot is now taken away by vacuum cleaners to avoid mess.

But the conference had more to do with modern problems.

"As a responsible trade association we are concerned with safety issues such as preventing chimney fires and tragedies caused by carbon monoxide poisoning," Mr Glynn said.