Homeowners warned to consider Christmas fire risk

Homeowners have been urged to consider the potential danger for an accident when putting up Christmas lights on their home.While those who go overboard with Christmas lights and decorations will not have their home contents policy affected in any way, Halifax Home Insurance said, they do need to ensure that simple safety tips are followed in order to minimise the risk of fire.David Rochester, head of underwriting for Halifax Home Insurance, advised: "Never leave candles burning when the room is unoccupied, and be careful not to position candles too close to any flammable materials such as curtains or Christmas decorations. It's also important not to overload electrical sockets when using Christmas fairy lights as this can be a fire risk too."Mr Rochester added: "Don't leave Christmas lights switched on when you are out of the home, or at night when going to bed."Recent research by Liverpool Victoria revealed that nearly 15 million Brits are leaving themselves vulnerable to burglary due to leaving expensive possessions on display in their windows.