AS THE nights are already drawing in and it's already feeling cooler, many of us are turning out our cupboards in search of the old electric blanket.

However, as electric blankets are delicate things and safety features have improved a lot over the years, York trading standards are urging people to think about the age of their blanket and the amount of wear it has had before switching it on again this year.

For the past two years, City of York Council's trading standards service has offered residents the chance to have their electric blankets safety tested for free. The service has found about half the blankets checked fail the safety tests.

The most common cause of concern is with older blankets - usually more than ten years old - that are not fitted with safety cut-out devices which switch off the blanket if it overheats.

Other problems have included broken wires and incorrect fuses that have been replaced over the years.

Trading standards is asking people to think about the following points and to make an appointment for a free check if they are concerned about the safety of their blanket:

Is your blanket fitted with a cut-out device which switches the blanket off if it overheats. If your blanket is more than ten years old then it may not have such a device. Your instruction booklet, if you still have it, will give you this information if you are unsure

Has your blanket been folded away over summer? This can break the internal wires if folded too tightly or heavy objects have been placed on top of it

Has your blanket had a lot of use over the years? Components can wear over time, particularly think whether children bounce your on the bed or if the blanket has ever been wet

Have the manufacturers care instructions been followed, and has home maintenance such as changing fuses always been done correctly? None of the wires to the plug or elsewhere should be loose

Is the blanket showing any signs of damage such as scorch marks, broken ties, or do any of the wires inside the blanket feel like they are broken or unevenly spaced? Holding the blanket up to the light can help with checking the wires inside.

If you are unsure about any of the above, then trading standards are offering free checks at the Guildhall on in York on the 25th and 26th October 2005.

The checks are by appointment only which can be made by telephoning Consumer Direct on 08454 040506 or by email to trading.standards@york.gov.uk

Updated: 10:20 Thursday, October 20, 2005