TRADING standards officials in Hartlepool have voiced their concerns after free safety tests uncovered a large number of dangerous electric blankets.
A total of 62 blankets were tested over a two-day period last month and 45 per cent were found to be faulty and irreparable.
Residents in Hartlepool were invited to book appointments for tests as part of an initiative funded by Teesside Health Action Zone, which is now in its fourth year.
Senior trading standards officer Ian Harrison, said: "The number of dangerous blankets presented to us has remained constant over the years.
"Every year about 50 per cent of the blankets we see are either too old and don't have modern safety features, such as protection against overheating, or they have become damaged due to general wear and tear.
"We are grateful to Teesside Health Action Zone for providing the funding for the testing engineer and we hope to continue carrying out these tests every year until all the dangerous blankets have been taken out of circulation."
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