SCORES of electric blankets belonging to Bromsgrove and Droitwich Spa residents are dangerous and could have killed someone - a survey has revealed.

Worcestershire County Council's trading standards service and Age Concern tested nearly 500 blankets during a two-week program-me throughout eight Worcestershire ven-ues -- including Bromsgrove.

Three hundred of the appliances were deemed unsafe for a host of reasons including exposed heating elements, badly worn fabrics, and unsafe plugs and control units.

At least ten of the blankets were so dangerous further use could have killed someone, a trading standards spokes-man said.

Trading standards officer John Benjamin said: "This is the second year running we have identified dangerous blankets in use by senior citizens."

Many of the defective blankets have had their wires removed and are to be given to animal sanctuaries throughout the county.