FIRE chiefs have launched a safety campaign designed to cut down on one of the major causes of blazes in North Yorkshire.

Chimney fires accounted for almost ten per cent of call-outs in the county last year, and firefighters spent a total of 36 working weeks tackling them.

Now, the county's fire and rescue service is launching an effort to reduce that figure, principally by encouraging people to have their chimneys swept.

The scheme is to be piloted in Colburn, near Catterick, where one in 20 of the county's chimney fires take place leading to firefighters spending two working weeks tackling incidents.

The fire and rescue service has linked up with Colburn Town Council and the National Association of Chimney Sweeps for Sweep 2002, which runs from this month to October.

Leaflets will be distributed highlighting the dangers, providing information on preventative action and advice on what to do should a fire occur.

It also includes a removable plastic card, which will also act as a ten per cent discount against the cost of having a chimney swept.

To further help the more vulnerable members of the community, the town council has contributed £300 to the campaign, which will primarily be used to subsidise the cost of sweeping by 25 per cent.

Fire chief Eric Clark said: "Chimney fires are not always confined to the chimney, but can easily spread through the home leaving a trail of destruction. Through proper maintenance these fires can be avoided."

Colburn mayor Peter Wood said he was delighted Colburn was piloting the scheme and he was confident it would act as a model for others.