Electric blanket safety checks carried out by Hampshire County Council's Trading Standards Service showed that 37% of the electric blankets tested were unsafe.

The 13 days of tests were conducted across the county in partnership with Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, district councils and Gems the electrical test engineers.

Since the checks began in 1997, around 3,500 blankets have been tested and almost half have failed.

The county says that this year the results were an improvement, but out of 935 blankets tested, 346 failed.

Blankets that failed were removed from use and vouchers towards replacement blankets were given to the owners.

For more information on electric blanket checks and advice on using and looking after them, phone 0845-6030081.