FIRE chiefs are warning parents to be aware of electrical blaze dangers in children's bedrooms.

Electric Safety First found that three in four children in the UK have a potential electrical fire hazard in their room – with an average of 10 electrical items in their bedroom.

The charity found 53 per cent of children admitted they had left their phone, laptop or tablet charging on their bed, 38 per cent left their phones charging under their pillow overnight and 27 per cent bought or used a cheap unbranded charger.

Neil Fenwick, head of community safety at the Essex fire service, said: “Electrical devices are a major cause of fires in homes across the county and many of them are preventable.

“We are urging people to take the time to ensure that their electrical appliances are safe and that they never overload plug sockets. Make basic checks around the home to ensure its electrically safety.

“Always make sure that you fit, and regularly test, your smoke alarm. Smoke alarms provide a vital warning that a fire has broken out, giving you and your family the time to get safely out.”

He urged people to unplug appliances when not in use, particularly when you go to bed. Do not leave mobile phones, tablets or laptops charging overnight. Remove chargers when they are not in use.

Don’t charge phones, tablets or any electrical device on your bed, under a pillow or anywhere the device might overheat.

Regularly check for worn or frayed wires. If the wire has started fraying it could be time to replace the appliance.