MORE than 1,700 council tenants in Pendle will be given free smoke alarms in a bid to cut fire tragedies.

The detectors will be fitted to homes in the borough's five most deprived areas: Brierfield, Bradley and Whitefield in Nelson, and Waterside and Vivary Bridge, Colne.

Householders will also get advice on where best to put alarms and other fire safety tips.

The alarms are fitted with special lithium batteries which last ten years and which cannot be used in other appliances.

"We've had instances of people taking the battery out of their alarm to put it into a child's toy," said John Taylor, Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service press officer. "We've also had examples of people taking alarms off us and then simply putting them in a drawer and forgetting about them or forgetting to replace a battery when it runs out.

"With these alarms we know the house is covered for ten years."

Mr Taylor said the benefits of having a smoke alarm fitted could not be over-emphasised. "The newspapers are full of incidents where people could have had an early warning if a smoke alarm was fitted in their house. Thirty per cent of chip pan fires alone cause injury or death. In the case of a fire like that, which escalates quickly, a smoke alarm can save lives by giving people early warning and time to get out.

"In fires that smoulder and never flame up, smoke can spread through a house and kill people without them ever waking up. An alarm will wake you and give you chance to get out before the smoke gets to you."

The project has been funded by Single Regeneration Budget cash and money from Pendle Council and the fire brigade.

"As a good landlord the council is keen to protect its tenants and Government cash earmarked for these wards is helping us achieve that," said Andrew Howcroft, contracts manager with Pendle Council.

"Residents should look out for a letter about the alarm which is being sent out with their rent card or contact Craig Metcalfe on 01282 661169 for details."

The free alarms are being followed up with a hard-hitting fire fighting demonstration to show homeowners the rapid effect of fire and how to act safely.

Picture: Shanaz Bashir, of Mansfield Crescent, Brierfield, watches as Craig Metcalfe, left, of Pendle housing department, helps Station officer Neil Taylor fit a smoke detector.