LIVES are being put at risk by people who have carelessly dumped dangerous appliances on a bonfire only yards from a children's play area.

Hazardous white goods were hidden beneath a pile of wood that families in a County Durham village had built ahead of an unofficial Guy Fawkes Night celebration.

Council workers who discovered the items yesterday warned that a fridge, freezer and oven could have exploded while children gathered around the fire at Sunniside recreation ground, near Crook.

Wear Valley District Council enforcement officer Ian Coulthard said: "This was very dangerous. The consequences could have been disastrous.

"Many appliances contain extremely dangerous chemicals, which need to be disposed of very carefully. If burned, they can blow up and cause pollution.

"Holding unsupervised bonfires on council land is illegal. This incident has shown the serious risks it runs."

Bob Emerson, street cleaning manager for the council, said: "If the bonfire had been lit by someone who did not realise what had been dumped underneath, someone could have been badly hurt or killed.

"The council offers a free service to dispose of such items, so there is absolutely no need to dump them.

"We had already removed a fridge and microwave earlier in the week, and another seven fridges were left nearby."

The council and Environment Agency will prosecute anyone known to have dumped such items. Witnesses are asked to call the council on (01388) 765555.