MP URGES CONSTITUENTS TO GET ELECTRIC BLANKETS TESTED

1.13.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 29th Sep 2008

Firefighter Ward (testing the blanket), Laura Saunders (M&WWF&R Community Safety team), local residents Mr. & Mrs. Boyce, Roger Williams MP and Kelly Jones (M&WWF&R Community Safety Team) at the recent electric blanket testing event at Brecon Fire Station

Brecon & Radnorshire's Liberal Democrat MP, Roger Williams, is urging constituents who use electric blankets to take advantage of the free electric blanket-testing service being offered by the Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service in Powys throughout the autumn period.

In a show of strong support for the initiative, Mr. Williams visited Brecon Fire Station recently to meet the officers conducting the tests and observe the testing process.

Commenting on the process, Mr. Williams said:

" This very important testing has previously been very successfully carried out by Powys County Council's Trading Standards department, but responsibility for the testing has now passed to the Fire & Rescue Service. The service is conducting a series of blanket-testing days across the county and I urge everyone with an electric blanket to go along and get the free test, even if the blanket has had only one season's use. It is particularly important that older blankets are tested to ensure they are still safe to use."

" The testing events are being publicised by poster locally, but I am urging the Fire & Rescue Service to advertise them more widely. This is a vital initiative and one I very strongly support."

Note:

For more information on free electric blanket testing or the free Home Fire Safety Checks offered by the Mid & West Wales Fire & Rescue Service, telephone 0800 169 1234