HOUSEHOLDERS are being offered the chance to have a free smoke alarm fitted.

Ei Electronics is providing Cleveland Fire Brigade with 140 alarms as part of the national fire service campaign How Will You Get Out Alive?

Mark Whelan, director of operations and community safety at the fire brigade, said: "This partnership with Ei Electronics gives us the opportunity to expand our Home Fire Safety Check initiative in the community, which aims to make every home in the brigade area safe from fire.

"Research shows that a quarter of households either have no smoke alarm or a smoke alarm that is not working and statistics show you are twice as likely to die in a fire in a household without a working smoke alarm.

"More than a quarter of all house fires are detected by smoke alarms and, although this is a good start to fire prevention work, it needs to be improved."

To request a home fire safety check, contact the brigade's Dave Turton on (01429) 872311.