Fire-risk tumble dryers ‘must be recalled’

A TUMBLE dryer manufacturer has been criticised by trading standards officers for failing to recall potentially faulty machines linked to fires at around 750 homes.

Whirlpool, which sells appliances under the Indesit, Creda and Hotpoint brands, has issued a series of safety warnings for its dryers, but has so far not issued a recall.

Around 750 homes have been damaged by fires caused by Whirlpool dryers since 2004, according to research by Which? magazine. The fires have led to two fatalities, and now Leon Livermore – head of the Trading Standards Institute – has warned that the firm is putting lives at risk.

He told The Observer: ‘Central government does have powers to force companies into recalls. So we would call on them to take action before somebody dies.’

Whirlpool insist the dryers are safe if they are not left unsupervised, as long as their lint filters are cleaned after every cycle. But a spokesman for campaign group Electrical Safety First said: ‘We are advising people to stop using affected appliances until they have been modified and declared safe.’

Whirlpool could not be reached for comment yesterday. In a previous statement, the firm said: ‘Our staff are working roundthe-clock to ensure we resolve the matter as quickly as possible. The safety of our customers is our number-one priority.’