A survey has highlighted the risk to university students from unsafe gas appliances in private accommodation.

A poll among students found more than half (53 per cent) with a private landlord had never been shown an up-to-date safety certificate for items such as gas fires or cookers in their property.

It was the death of a Durham University student in 1995 which prompted the launch of The Northern Echo's Silent Killer campaign.

The campaign aims to raise awareness of the dangers of breathing poisonous carbon monoxide (CO) fumes from badly-maintained or faulty gas heaters or boilers.

By law, landlords must have gas appliances inspected every year by a Corgi registered engineer.

But Home Office statistics show 16 young people died and 300 were injured in the past five years as a result of CO poisoning.

British Gas and the National Union of Students (NUS), which compiled the survey, warned students were among those most in danger.

Verity Coyle, vice-president in charge of welfare at the NUS, said: "Deaths and injuries caused by CO poisoning are tragic because they can be avoided very easily.

"Landlords have got away with too much for too long. Breaking the law should not be an option for them.

"NUS is calling for proper licensing for all student accommodation to end the Dickensian conditions students live in, and to stop the exploitation by landlords who make a great deal of money out of them."

Chris Bielby, head of quality and standards at British Gas, said: "The rise in amateur landlords means people are gambling with students' lives. A shabby carpet is one thing, but the time has come to turn up the heat on these people who are knowingly putting students at risk."

Read more about the Silent Killer campaign here.