Alarms sold on web fail to detect killer gas

DOZENS of carbon monoxide alarms sold via Amazon and eBay have been removed from sale after an investigation found they failed safety tests.

Four alarm makes, bought from the two retail sites and tested by Which?, failed to sound when the gas was in the air, making them potentially lethal. All four types claimed to meet British safety standards.

One – the Topolek GEHS007AW CO alarm costing £14.99 and listed as a bestseller on Amazon – failed to detect the gas in more than 80 per cent of the tests conducted by the watchdog. Three other unbranded alarms, sold through sellers on Amazon and eBay for less than

£10, also repeatedly failed to sound with carbon monoxide in the air.

The watchdog said Amazon and eBay had removed the alarms from sale and also ‘delisted’ another 50 lookalikes.

Which? is advising anyone who owns one to replace it immediately and contact the company they bought it from for a full refund.

Alex Neill, of Which?, said: ‘It’s extremely concerning that these unsafe alarms were being sold by major retailers.’

An eBay spokesman said: ‘The safety of customers is our number one priority ... The items flagged by Which? did not comply with the required UK regulations and were removed. We are working with the sellers to ensure their customers are aware they have been removed from the site.’

‘Extremely concerning’