People are being urged to follow candle safety advice after 73 fires were started by candles in Berkshire.

Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service (RBFRS) is supporting Candle Fire Safety Week, which runs from October 21 to 27, in a bid to raise awareness of candle safety measures.

Gail Muirhead, West Hub prevention manager for RBFRS, said: "With winter fast approaching, many people enjoy the comforting warm glow of candles around their homes.

"However, candles produce lots of risks that can cause serious injuries to yourselves and devastation to your homes.

"From 2021 to present, crews from Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue Service have attended to 73 incidents of fires started by candles.

"We aim to significantly reduce this statistic through prevention and our safety guidance.

"In honour of Candle Fire Safety Week, we are urging members of our community to follow our safety advice to keep you and your loved ones safe."

The fire service advised using flameless candles, always placing candles on a stable, heat-resistant surface in a proper holder, and keeping the flame at a safe distance from flammable materials such as curtains.

They also gave advice on burns, such as burn cool the area under a cool running tap, call emergency numbers 999 or 111 , and to loosely cover the burn with cling film or a sterile cloth.

For more safety advice, visit the RBFRS website.