South Gloucestershire residents are being advised to remain vigilant when turning on decorations this Christmas.

Bradley Stoke-based electrical contractor FES have warned that figures show fires caused by electrical issues are most likely to happen throughout the festive season, with Christmas decorations inside and outside homes likely to be the culprit.

Danny Calder, from FES said: “It’s the same story in most households at this time of year. Old decorations are brought out of their hiding places in the loft, or under the stairs or in the shed and they’re re-used to brighten up the home in time for the celebrations.

“While it’s a lovely tradition faulty electrics can turn a happy time into a nightmare very easily. Recycled lights that are years old aren’t always safe to use, so it’s well worth investing in new ones.

He added: “Overloading plug sockets, particularly when lots of outdoor lights are plugged into indoor sockets, can put a huge strain on home systems, similarly the use of multiple sockets and extension leads increases risk.

“We’ve seen cases where people have re-wired two, three or even four sets of fairy lights into a single plug which is a huge fire risk! It’s also important to remember not to leave lights on for long periods of time, particularly not overnight or when you leave the house.

“Huge numbers of people in Bristol have never had their home electrics checked or do not know when they were last checked. Any incidents involving electrics within the home are so easily preventable just by ensuring they are checked regularly by a qualified electrician.”

Faulty electrics in homes result in around 20,000 house fires each year and around 70 fatalities.