WORCESTERSHIRE'S Trading Standards officers are urging people to be aware of the fire hazard caused by settees.

Workers' Union GMB has claimed one in five sofas imported to Britain do not meet fire safety regulations.

Worcestershire's Trading Standards says there is no evidence locally to suggest this assertion is true - but it is issuing a warning to both consumers and traders alike to be vigilant.

Reports have shown that traders known to the department are rarely the source of non-compliant goods.

It is normally itinerant traders selling goods door-to-door or peddling furniture to small retailers who are to blame.

Label

Compliant furniture will usually have a label that is permanently attached headed "Carelessness causes fire" and giving various other details.

"We take the safety of upholstered furniture extremely seriously and are concerned about recent Press reports saying up to one in five suites fail to meet requirements," said Clive Graham, head of Trading Standards.

"Officers would also like to hear from anybody, either trade or individual, offered furniture by itinerant traders."

Officers are currently working with a number of furniture importers within the county to ensure that all goods being brought in meet legal requirements.

For more information, call John Benjamin on 01905 765383.