WARNINGS have been issued in the wake of a “significant increase” in house fires around Teesside.

There were 16 accidental house fires across the area during April this year – an increase from the six recorded by Cleveland Fire Brigade in the same period last year.

A number of those fires started outside before spreading to buildings, putting lives and property at risk.

Phil Lancaster, Cleveland Fire Brigade’s director of community protection, said: “We are appealing to all residents as a matter of urgency to take extra care inside and outside their homes.

“We have been called out recently to incidents where bonfires in the garden and carelessly discarded cigarettes or hot ashes have set fire to sheds and wheelie bins which have then spread to houses.

“Fires can spread very easily and can put you and your family’s lives at risk.

“Please do not burn rubbish in your gardens and dispose of cigarettes and BBQ ashes carefully to protect your loved ones and avoid the heartbreak of serious damage to your home.”

The brigade’s figures for April show there were no working smoke alarms in six of the properties affected.

Mr Lancaster said: “It is vital that every home has working smoke alarms.

“They are proven to save lives and should be fitted on every level of your home and tested at least once a week.”