MORE than 400 people are killed and 12,500 people injured in house fires each year in the UK.

On average, 270 of those killed in fires did not have a smoke alarm.

So having moved house it seemed like a good idea to take advantage of the scheme.

The first thing firefighters did was fit two smoke alarms free of charge while Acting Station Officer John Burke talked me through fire prevention measures and discussed the best escape route if there was a blaze.

Some were common sense - never leave lighters or matches around young children and never smoke in bed.

When it came to electrical equipment there were some surprises.

Householders should regularly check for worn or broken flexes on appliances and a quick look around my house revealed that my iron needed replacing. Another common problem is overloaded sockets and I was recommended to replace a block adapter I use to allow more than one appliance to be in the same socket.

I was warned that my candles should be on a sturdy base and away from flammable materials.

A mirror hanging over my fireplace also caused concern as people often hang items on the frames which can fall on the fire or stand too close to the heat as they try to look at themselves.

He advised me to switch off fires, heaters and appliances at night and to close internal doors to hold back any flames.

The comprehensive check took up a fraction of my day, but provided valuable life-saving information. To request a check, call 0191-332 4222.