A WARNING has been issued, urging people to check their chimneys this winter to avoid a fire.

With England in lockdown once again and the darker and colder nights upon us many of us are taking the opportunity to pop on a boxset and, for those lucky enough, to snuggle infront of a roaring fire.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service have recommend getting chimneys swept annually which is still permitted despite lockdown, being classified as a necessity in helping reduce fires.

With a lot of home renovations been carried out this year in the first lockdown a wood burning stove may have been installed and even installed by yourself.

There are also some other safety precautions to take including checking you have a working smoke alarm in your property and fitting a carbon monoxide alarm.

The fire service have also said to use a fire guard, especially if there are children and pets in the property and to use clean dry logs that are stored a safe distance from the fire and to not burn household waste.

And whilst it might be handy to dry clothes in front of the fire, or feels cosy to stand next to it, getting too close could cause a fire from radiating heat or ‘jumping’ embers.

Watch Manager, Neil Mitchell, from Chorley Fire Station said: "I would estimate we go to about 12 chimney fires in the winter period which have been caused by lack of regular chimney sweeping even if burning appropriate materials like coal or wood, this issue can be made considerably worse if burning inappropriate composite materials.

"We also attend about six fires related to open fires which spread due to a fault in either the structure of the chimney stack or the fire itself for example an incorrectly installed wood burner."

Pubs and restaurants are also being urged to get their chimneys swept now ready for when lockdown is lifted.

The National Association of Chimney Sweeps will help you find a local chimney sweep and their members are permitted to enter people’s homes providing they and customers wear appropriate PPE and maintain social distancing.

They are also undertaking extra precautions such as ventilating the room they are working in, new dust sheets for each job they attend and sanitizing fire surrounds once they have completed the sweep.