DISCO-style strobe lights are set to be used to help deaf people know when their homes are on fire.

Lancashire County Council is working with the county's fire service to get special smoke alarms fitted in around 45,000 homes.

Instead of releasing a piercing sound when the alarm detects smoke, a pad fitted under the deaf person's pillow begins vibrating while disco-style strobe lights flash around, making it impossible for anyone to remain asleep. It is hoped the new scheme, currently being tested in Lancaster, will reduce the risk of dying in a fire because they cannot hear conventional fire alarms.

Assistant chief officer John Williamson said: "There are 202,000 hard of hearing people in Lancashire, of which around 45,000 people would need one of these special smoke alarms.

"These are people who could be at risk because they cannot hear conventional smoke alarms. These special ones are expensive, but our partnership with the county council should help reduce the cost. There is no way someone can sleep through one of the special alarms."

Under the scheme, every identified household with a hard of hearing person in the Lancashire area will be visited by fire safety officers who will fit a specialist smoke alarm.

Lancashire is the only area in the country piloting the scheme.

Mr Williamson added: "We are able to purchase the alarms at half the original price paid by Lancashire County Council."

Another scheme being introduced in the county is the installation of smoke detectors inside light bulb sockets for people who cannot get to smoke alarms to check to see if they are still working.