A RAWTENSTALL fire chief has urged residents to check their smoke alarms regularly.

Station Commander Barry Ryan said smoke alarms had been responsible for detecting many of the 60,000 house fires the service was called to every year.

But he said many tragedies could have been prevented had people made a simple check of their smoke alarm.

He said: "Recently there has been a 30 per cent increase in cases where a smoke alarm didn't work, because the battery was disconnected, missing, or needed replacing.

"Smoke alarms are cheap at less than £5 and are available at many DIY stores and supermarkets."

Station Commander Ryan said once fitted alarms should be tested once a month by pressing the button on the outside, and once a year should vacuumed and wiped to ensure that dust isn't blocking the sensor.

He said: "We know that smoke alarms save lives. Dead batteries can be replaced, dead families cannot."