Wearside firefighters warn about the dangers of flammable Halloween costumes
Durham firefighters are warning Halloween costumes may be highly flammable because they can be classed as toys.
Parents are urged to look at the label of their child’s fancy dress costume to see if it has the CE or UKCA mark, which means they have been fire safety tested.
Durham’s Fire Safety Manager Kevin Bell said: “Don’t let Halloween celebrations turn into a nightmare by failing to make one simple check when buying costumes for your children.
“Please take a second to check that any fancy dress outfit you buy has the UKCA or CE mark on the label.
“Remember, if your costume does catch fire, remember to stop, drop and roll. And if you’re planning on decorating with pumpkins, please use battery powered or LED candles instead of real candles to stop a fire from breaking out.
“We know Halloween is supposed to be scary, but don’t let trick-or-treating end in tragedy by acting now to ensure your loved ones are safe from fire.”