SAFETY checks on electric blankets across Oxfordshire revealed that four out of ten were dangerous to use.

Of 793 electric blankets tested at ten centres, 339 passed, 326 failed completely and 128 were safe to use only after repairs were carried out.

The figures were published today, three days after a pensioner tackled a fire in his bedroom caused by a faulty blanket.

Harry Norton, 77, turned on his 15-year-old blanket before going to bed on Wednesday.

When he returned from the bathroom, he found his bed ablaze.

Mr Norton, who lives in sheltered housing in Maryfield, Wantage, tried to put out the flames with buckets of water, but had to get out after he was overcome with thick, acrid smoke. He said: "It was unworldly. I can think of nothing to compare with it. My mind started to explore the possibility of how far it would spread and how lethal it would become while I was trying to do practical things like stop it from spreading."

A fire crew arrived minutes later and quickly put out the blaze, flooding Edward Stokes's flat below.

The free blanket tests were organised by Oxfordshire County Council's Trading Standards Department in partnership with the fire service, Age Concern, the city council and the four district councils.

Needy people were helped with the cost of buying new blankets, thanks to sponsorship from Innogy, which runs Didcot Power Station, and Argos Business Solutions. David Sibbert, the county council's chief trading standards officer, said: "Although there were fewer completely unsafe blankets in this year's campaign than in 2000, 41 per cent is still a worryingly high number.

"One area of concern was that there were more than twice the number of blankets that needed repairs."

Mr Sibbert said: "If you have any doubts about the safety of your blanket, contact the manufacturer to arrange a safety check."

Chief fire officer John Parry said: "These results show the continuing value of this initiative, which also provides us and the district councils with the opportunity to talk to people about the safe use of electric blankets and other fire and electrical safety issues in the home."

For more information call Trading Standards on 01865 81500 or the fire service on 01865 719900.

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