THE Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service is offering to test people's electric blankets next week to ensure they are safe.

Last year around 50 per cent of blankets tested failed.

Anyone with an electric blanket can take it along to one of the following locations between 10am and 4pm:

Monday, February 21: Castletown Civic Centre

Tuesday, February 22: Ramsey Swimming Pool

Wednesday, February 23: National Sports Centre, Groves Road, Douglas

To save queuing people can contact the community safety team on 647303 or email cs@gov.im to book a time slot at one of the venues.

Station Officer Carl Kinvig, fire safety officer for the Isle of Man Fire and Rescue Service, said: "In previous years there has been a high proportion of electric blankets that have failed the safety test.

"Potentially using a faulty electric blanket can lead to a fire in your home. Faults can develop at any time and I urge anyone who has a blanket, or whose elderly relatives use electric blankets, to take this opportunity to have them checked.

"It's no problem to come along without an appointment but we will give priority to people who have booked a time slot."

This year the IoM Fire and Rescue Service is sharing the venues with Age Concern's Energy Doctor and Bright Ideas' Home Energy Doctor – who will be available to discuss ways of improving home efficiency - thus saving people money.

Anyone who attends the blanket testing sessions can pick up a voucher for a 10 per cent discount off the price of new electric blankets, heaters, low energy bulbs and energy monitors, redeemable at the Manx Electricity Authority showrooms.

For fire safety advice contact the Fire Service community safety risk reduction team or go to the website www.iomfire.com