A FAULTY electric blanket that caught alight and set fire to a mattress has prompted firefighters to issue a safety warning.

The Fire & Rescue Service, which was called to a property in Rue des Bergers, Castel, on Saturday night, said that islanders should be extra cautious about electric blankets.

Fortunately no one was in the bed at the time and the early warning from the smoke alarm prevented the fire spreading.

Two water tenders were quickly at the scene to extinguish the fire, which was out within an hour.

‘It was obviously a faulty electric blanket,’ said community fire safety manager Andy Mauger (pictured).

‘I don’t believe there’s anywhere over here you can have them checked properly. I couldn’t find the Kitemark on it either.

‘We haven’t had a fire involving an electric blanket for a long time. We don’t want anybody put at risk. If somebody is in bed and it happens they will have a serious injury or worse. One is enough.’

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