ELECTRIC ITEMS CAUSE 13 FIRES A DAY

DON’T buy really cheap electrical gadgets online — and be extremely careful if you buy secondhand, experts say.

More than 4,700 fires in the UK were caused by electrical goods last year, an average of 13 per day, according to Electrical Safety First, the campaign group and advice service.

A third of second-hand electrical device retailers are selling goods that fail safety tests, according to Trading Standards.

Electrical Safety First urges people to be wary

of gadgets that are being sold at just below the normal retail price, as they could be counterfeit or damaged. It says customers should inspect packaging carefully when products arrive. If it’s poorly worded or has numerous spelling errors the items may be fake.

Never use a plug if it has any gaps in the casing where the internal components are visible, or if it seems smaller than usual. Pins must be at least 9.5mm away from the edge of the plug or there’s a risk of electric shock.