Sounding the smoke alarm

PEOPLE are being urged to test their battery smoke alarms after a study found four in 10 did not work.

Two in 10 mains devices also failed to activate.

And more than two in 10 householders never tested their smoke alarms, Local Government Association data revealed.

Cllr Ian Stephens, from the LGA, said: “Smoke alarms are proven lifesavers, but these worrying ‘failure rates should serve as a reminder to people to test alarms regularly.”