FREE carbon monoxide detectors are being offered to Newton and Earlestown residents aged 65 and older who take up a free home safety check.

The home safety checks are a service available to all residents aged over 65 and to families with young children.

Known as the silent killer, around 50 people die a year as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning in the home and more than 100,000 get ill.

Danger signs of carbon monoxide from gas fires include difficulty in igniting the fire, a yellow or orange colouring to the flames, sooting or staining above or around the fire and a fire that often extinguishes itself without warning.

If you would like a free home safety check and a carbon monoxide detector, contact Eric Riley, St Helens Council's home safety co-ordinator on 01744 675820 to arrange an appointment.