THIRTY-EIGHT people in the region have died from carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning in the past 15 years, figures reveal.

A child of three was among the death toll in the North-East and North Yorkshire, the report by the CO-Gas Safety charity found.

Nearly 300 people in the region had a lucky escape after almost succumbing to the deadly gas.

In many of these cases, the victim lost consciousness, according to the charity.

Among the near misses was a group of bingo players in Durham City, a class of 25 schoolchildren on Tyneside and numerous families and occupants of student houses.

According to the charity, ten people in North Yorkshire, five in Cleveland, three in County Durham, 15 in Tyne and Wear and ten in Northumberland, were killed by CO poisoning between September 1, 1995, and August 31, last year.

Fourteen of those who died in the region were pensioners.

The Northern Echo launched its Silent Killer campaign following the death of Anne Brennan, a 19-year-old student from Houghton-le-Spring, Wearside, in digs in Durham City in 1995.

Nationally, 594 people in the UK were killed by the gas in the past 15 years.

Almost 70 per cent of deaths occurred in the home.

The lethal gas, which has no smell, can be emitted from the burning of any carbon-based fuel, including wood, oil and petrol.

The figures show that 37 per cent of people died from burning gas from the mains and 31 per cent were killed after burning solid fuel.

CO-Gas Safety is calling for an end to what it calls “unnecessary tragedies”

by raising awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide.

Stephanie Trotter, president of CO-Gas Safety, said: “Being a deadly gas which cannot be sensed by smell, taste, touch or hearing, it is vital that people are aware of the dangers and know the steps to take to reduce their risk of being affected.”

The data will be presented to industry figures, MPs and victims of carbon monoxide poisoning today at the House of Lords.