AN east Durham town's love of home-made chips is placing its residents at serious risk, a fire safety officer has warned.

In less than three months, 16 out of 18 house fires in Peterlee have been started by overheated chip pans, with two more kitchen blazes at the weekend resulting in two women being taken to hospital, suffering from smoke inhalation.

Yesterday, County Durham and Darlington's Fire and Rescue Brigade's safety officer, John Bowery, urged householders to consider doing without their favourite fried food.

The new figures took even the most experienced officers by surprise.

"We always expect to see a number of house fires started by overheated oil, but these instances in Peterlee are among the highest ever," said Mr Bowery.

"The problem of chip pan fires seems to be particularly prevalent in the Peterlee area.

"Since April 1 this year, there have been 18 accidental house fires. All of these began in the kitchen and 16 involved the chip pan."

While trying to steer residents towards the local chip shop or cut out fries altogether, Mr Bowery accepted that many households would ignore the risks.

The brigade suggests the use of a safer fryer or switching to potentially less dangerous oven or grilled chips.

For those still prepared to face the dangers, Mr Bowery issued a few simple rules.

He said people should never fill a pan more than one-third full of fat or oil, never leave the pan unattended when the heat is switched on, and dry chips thoroughly before putting them in the pan.

If a fire starts, he issued a three-point emergency plan beginning with turning off the heat, then running a cloth under the tap and wringing it out before putting it over the pan for at least 30 minutes.

Finally, and most crucially, he warned: "Never throw water over a burning chip pan - the results can be catastrophic."

As if to justify Mr Bowery's cause for concern came the weekend incidents in homes at Peterlee's Dunelm Walk and Christchurch Place, and further kitchen fire callouts at Maple Crescent in Seaham, Prospect View in West Rainton and The Riggs at Brandon