AN MP has joined forces with British Gas and The Northern Echo to highlight the dangers posed by carbon monoxide poisoning.

Durham City MP Gerry Steinberg is backing the company's awareness campaign against the colourless and odourless gas, known as the Silent Killer.

The Northern Echo laun-ched its own Silent Killer campaign in 1999 following the deaths of Durham University student Anne Brennan and Deborah O'Neil, from Spennymoor, County Durham.

Carbon monoxide is a lethal gas produced by burning fossil fuel without sufficient air.

It can escape into homes when an appliance goes wrong, is installed incorrectly or when a natural air vent, such as a chimney or window, becomes blocked.

The gas cannot be seen, smelled or tasted. Symptoms, which include headaches, dizziness and sickness, can be mistaken for a cold or flu.

Each year, carbon monoxide poisoning claims the life of about 50 people in Britain and there were seven deaths in the North-East last year.

Mr Steinberg said: "Carbon monoxide poisoning is something that can affect anyone, regardless of their age, sex or health.

"It strikes when people are off their guard in the comfort of their own homes, and its victims are often not aware of what is happening until it is too late.

"It's time we all did something to tackle that."

As part of its awareness campaign, British Gas is urging energy users in County Durham to ensure they have their heating appliances regularly serviced and are aware of the danger signs associated with carbon monoxide poisoning.

These are: stains, soot or discolouring around appliances, flames that burn yellow or orange rather than blue, and unusual smells.

Householders and landlords can now also buy alarmed carbon monoxide detectors to alert them to the gas.

For more information, call the British Gas information line on 08459 605040.

Read more about the silent killer campaign here.