FIREFIGHTERS have enlisted the help of Father Christmas to help save lives this festive season.

Oxfordshire Fire Service hopes to cut the number of fires at Christmas - by setting up a grotto with a twist.

Parents are being encouraged to bring their children to meet Santa in the main precinct of Kidlington's shopping centre.

On entering the grotto, they will be confronted with a living room scene set up to highlight fire hazards in the home at Christmas.

Station manager Paul Waknell said he came up with the idea after a friend complained that there had not been a grotto in Kidlington for years.

He said: "I thought we could kill two birds with one stone by highlighting the fire hazards that are in the home.

"As people walk into the grotto, there will be a living room set up, as you might expect in any home at this time of year.

"There will be a firefighter on hand to show people around the room and point out the different hazards.

"Then once they have spotted four or five hazards, the kids get to go and meet Santa."

He said there were always more incidents and accidents when people were off work - especially at Christmas.

He said: "There tend to be more candles in the home, which is fine, but people need to make sure they are out of the way of the Christmas decorations.

"People sometimes also take batteries out of their smoke alarms as they need them for kids' toys.

"People need to make sure they have got all the batteries they need before Christmas Day - and that smoke alarms are working properly, as they could save your life."

Oxford and Cherwell Valley College, based in Oxpens Road, Oxford, provided a vacant shop for the Kidlington firefighters to use as a grotto.

Mr Waknell said: "Without them, we would not have been able to do this."

The grotto was open on Saturday and will be open on both Saturdays before Christmas from 10am until 3pm.

For information on how to make your home safe, and for a free home survey and smoke alarms, call the fire safety line on 0800 032 5999.