Firefighters are urging people to check that they are not overloading plug sockets and adaptors after a fire in High Wycombe this week.

Crews from High Wycombe and Beaconsfield were called to an address in Forest Way shortly before 2pm on Wednesday after a fan heater caught fire in a ground-floor room.

It was one of about 10 items, pictured, including an electric heater, a hairdryer, a lamp, Christmas lights and chargers, plugged into adaptors leading to a single wall socket.

The fire was out on arrival, and firefighters ventilated the house.

Crew commander Adam Burch from High Wycombe Fire Station said: “Many of us have extension leads in our homes, using adaptors to increase the number of appliances we can plug into a socket.

"We are urging people not to overload their sockets because of the risk of a fire breaking out."

Bucks Fire and Rescue want to warn people about the dangers of overloading plus sockets, saying it is not always safe.

They added that to avoid the risk of overheating and possibly fire, an extension lead or socket should never have appliances that together use more than 13 amps or 3,000 watts of energy plugged into it.

For more information visit www.bucksfire.gov.uk