WIREDGOV

Cllr Simon Blackburn, Chair of the Local Government Association's Safer and Stronger Communities Board, responds to new safety advice issued by Whirlpool on faulty tumble dryers awaiting repair.

"While this change in advice is sensible, it should have been issued far sooner, as this would have lowered the risk of affected tumble dryers catching fire and ultimately, putting people's lives in serious danger.

"For needless months, consumers have been playing ‘Russian roulette' with at-risk tumble dryers prone to bursting into flames and destroying homes, and with firefighters attending three fires a day caused by the appliances.

"Tumble dryers are the second biggest cause of faulty appliance house fires. It is a shame that it has taken enforcement notices from Trading Standards, pressure from a consumer group and lobbying from the LGA to change the advice which now advises owners of potentially dangerous machines to unplug and stop using them until they are repaired.

"People's safety must be the priority and we urge Whirlpool to inform consumers of the new advice with a mass publicity campaign.

"We are also calling for all white goods to have fire-proof markings on them, including the manufacturer, model and serial number, so they can be identified more easily if they are damaged after causing a fire."

Notes to editors

Tumble dryers are the second biggest cause of faulty appliance house fires, accounting for 12 per cent, according to consumer group Which?