Firefighters are warning of the dangers of children charging their phones and other gadgets in bed.
They say that children are developing habits of leaving these items under pillows or blankets while sleeping and they are causing fires.
They also warn that cheaper and even counterfeit charges can have similar dangers.
And now research from Electrical Safety First has shown just how serious the issue is.
More than half (53pc) of all children say that they leave their phone, tablet or laptop charging on their bed overnight while 38pc say that they charge them underneath their pillows.
The research also revealed that a huge 27pc of children use cheaper unbranded chargers.
The research done by the UK-based electrical safety experts shows that far too many children are putting themselves at risk.
While it may sound obvious, surrounding a device with materials such as bedding causes it to overheat even if the phone is functioning perfectly and meets safety standards.
“One one of the major issues is the availability of ‘cheap’ charging cables and devices out there as, while these might be cost effective, many don’t meet British and EU Safety Standards – making them potentially dangerous,” says Nottinghamshire Fire and Rescue Service’s station manager Matt Reavill.
“Another common issue is people charging phones under their pillows at night and I would really advise people don’t do this.
“Bedding is combustible and the charging process can give off a lot of heat, especially when a device is under a pillow where there is low air circulation. This heat – in the right circumstances - can lead to a fire starting.
“Finally I would also urge people to be cautious when charging devices overnight. Similar to with washing machines and tumble dryers, leaving things running or charging overnight, or even while you’re out, means that should a fire start you are unable to take swift action.”
