Cumbria County Council's Trading Standards officers are warning the public to be wary of businesses that visit homes trying to sell fire prevention equipment.
The county's head of Trading Standards, Phil Ashcroft said: "We have received several complaints about a company selling fire prevention equipment. High-pressure and at times alarmist sales techniques, which appear to be particularly aimed at elderly residents, are being used to sell smoke alarms and other equipment which is grossly overpriced."
Alan Rawsthorne from Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service explained that free, professional fire and accident prevention advice is available from the Fire & Rescue Service: "We provide free home safety checks which are performed by trained firefighters and community safety advisors.
"These checks are designed to make sure people have working smoke alarms, basic accident prevention advice and a plan of how they will get out of their home in the event of a fire. If smoke alarms are required as part of these checks, we will provide and fit them free of charge ."
For more advice and to arrange a free home safety check, people can contact the Fire & Rescue Service's freephone number 0800-358-4777.
ENDS
Media enquiries to Mark Graham, Media Officer on 01228-606337
Notes for editors
The picture above shows a Cumbria Fire & Rescue Service personnel carrying out a free home safety check.