A CAMPAIGN to make sure all homes in Darlington are fitted with smoke alarms has been launched on the town's Skerne Park estate.

Darlington and County Durham Fire and Rescue Service has been hard at work promoting fire safety in the home to people across the town, by giving talks to schools, Women's Institute groups and community groups about fire safety, as part of a county-wide scheme.

Now Darlington Borough Council has got involved by providing 1,000 smoke alarms for its council tenants in Skerne Park.

Darlington fire station commander Les Greenwood said two alarms were being fitted to each council house on the estate, but stressed that the service also carried out inspections at private homes as well.

"We can talk to anyone and any group about fire safety in the home, planning an escape route and fit alarms to the upstairs and downstairs of properties," he said.

"We need to make people aware of the campaign to fit the alarms. We can't afford to buy everyone a smoke alarm, but we can go to every house and carry out a home fire safety inspection.

"If we find anyone is in a dangerous bracket after carrying out the inspection we will fit the smoke alarms free of charge, otherwise it's a charge of £3 per alarm.

"It's about saving people's lives and making people aware of fires in the home. In the short term it might cost a lot, but in the long term it could save millions of pounds and save lives."

A council spokeswoman said the authority had worked with Skerne Park Neighbourhood Watch members and the fire service on the scheme, with funding from the Single Regeneration Budget.

"This funding has already made a big difference to the lives of people living in Skerne Park. We are pleased to be able to do anything we can to increase residents' safety and peace of mind and hope we may be able to extend the scheme," she said