Fire warning from home insurance firm

People must do more to check potential fire hazards in their house, one home insurance firm has warned.

Research by Halifax Home Insurance shows that 40 per cent of people do not regularly check for fire-related dangers in their property .

The study also found that 68 per cent of people would panic and not know what to do should a fire start.

Martyn Foulds, senior claims manager at the home insurance firm urged people to assess their property and if necessary take steps to make it safer.

He said: The leading causes of fires in the home are cooking, heating, electrical and smoking materials - and a worrying number of those quizzed told us they don't regularly check these hazards.

A fire could mean people lose items which cannot be replaced by a home insurance claim, Mr Foulds added.

Last week, esure urged people to check their home insurance policy before doing their Christmas shopping to avoid taking out unneeded extra cover.