Research has revealed that Herefordshire and Worcestershire are among the areas most at risk of chimney fires in the UK.

Fire safety experts Green Olive Firewood found that the counties record 11 daily fires per 100,000, tying for second place as experiencing the most chimney fires, trailing only behind Cornwall.

Chimney fires across the UK increase by 220 per cent in December, with the main problem identified as a lack of chimney cleaning, with fire chiefs in Herefordshire and Worcestershire reporting an increase in fires and homeowners using unswept chimneys to heat their homes.