HAMPSHIRE Fire and Rescue Service has backed a national campaign warning of the dangers of beauty appliances.

An estimated 650,000 house fires in the UK have been caused by appliances such as hair straighteners, curling irons, and other similar devices.

To highlight the issue, Electrical Safety First (ESF) is launching a new campaign called Pull the Plug to remind people to pull the switch off their beauty appliances after use.

Their research finds that one-in-12 women admit to having left their straighteners switched on at least once and almost half of women have panicked about leaving an electrical beauty device switched on when they are out and about.

Emma Apter, of ESF, said: “Straighteners can reach temperatures of more than 235C and can take up to 40 minutes to cool down. Considering that they reach temperatures hotter than a deep fat fryer, there’s a high risk of damage or fire if left near flammable materials.

“Our advice is to pull the plug on your appliances. Switch them off when you’ve finished using them and leave them to cool on a mat or heat-proof surface.”

ESF has found that people aged between 18 and 24 are particularly at risk, and one-in-three people in this age group has been burned by an appliance.

And research shows that more than 200,000 people in that age group have experienced a house fire caused by a beauty appliance.

Assistant chief officer Steve Foye, head of community safety at Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, said: “The dangers of leaving appliances such as straighteners on are stark. Fire safety might not immediately spring to mind during a beauty routine, but it’s vital that people remember to take care as they get ready to go out.”

Visit electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/pulltheplug.