REVELLERS are being urged to cut down on fatal kitchen fires -- by making a round of sandwiches before they go to the pub.

The move is aimed at preventing people setting their homes alight while trying to cook supper when they are drunk.

It is being promoted alongside more traditional advice -- such as testing smoke alarms.

While mingling with teenagers on Friday and Saturday nights, firefighters are stressing that a few minutes preparing a wholesome snack will not just conquer their alcohol induced hunger pangs -- but could save their lives by taking away the need to turn on chip pans.

Bosses are also negotiating with takeaway owners to offer discounts to see the number of teenagers cooking kept to a minimum.

The scheme has adopted the slogan 'Let's look after each other and make sure we get up safely the next morning.'

It comes on the back of statistics which show 50 per cent of fire deaths in East Lancashire homes are linked to alcohol consumption.

In 2004, 20 people died as a result of fires in Lancashire last year and 150 more suffered injury through fire.

Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service is among the agencies taking part in Operation Summer Nights to reduce street anti-social behaviour by championing personal health and safety.

As part of the scheme --firefighters are heading into all Lancashire's main towns to hand out credit card size check lists with tips teenagers should take to reduce the risk of causing a house fire.

Spokesman, John Taylor said: "We regularly attend house fires which have started when someone has come in from the pub, put the chip pan on and fallen asleep. The results can be horrific if not fatal.

"Officers won't be finger-pointing and nannying but having some banter with the teenagers. But we will be stressing that fires are more likely to happen when their defences are down and urging them to prepare a sandwich before they go out and put it ready in the fridge. "If it's there waiting when they get back, it will take away the temptation to put the chip pan on."

"As far as we're concerned, if we save one life it's worth it," Mr Taylor added.

Among those supporting the sandwich idea is dietician Jenny Slaughter of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale Primary Care Trust.

She said: "I think it's a fantastic idea and from a health perspective I would urge the teenagers to pick the sandwich option and keep off the chips."