Urgent warning for Brits heading on caravan staycations over serious fire risk onboard – check if your motor is at risk

BRITS heading on caravan staycations have been issued an urgent warning over a serious risk of fires on board.

The Office for Product Saftey and Standards (OPSS) has partnered up with nine major brands to raise awareness about potentially faulty appliances putting drivers in danger.

AlamyCaravan owners have been warned about a faulty appliance that could cause fires[/caption]

The regulator announced that certain models of gas hob that are popular in caravans and motorhomes may be fitted with a connector line that is at risk of failing.

This can happen whether or not the hob is used and can cause gas leaks, fires and even explosions.

Affected brands include Apelson, Cooke & Lewis and Russell Hobbs.

If you have a hob from any of the manufacturers involved in a caravan that is supplied by Liquid Petroleum Gas (LPG), you must disconnect it from the gas supply immediately.

Owners of permanent homes supplied by either LPG or mains gas can continue to use their hobs until an engineer comes out but should remain aware of the issue and report any smell of gas urgently.

You can check your hob’s model number on its rating label or in the instruction manual.

This can be compared to a list of affected models, which can be found online.

If your model number is affected, contact the manufacturer straight away to report the fault.

A release from the OPSS read: “All of the companies included in the corrective action are committed to ensuring people’s safety, which is why they are notifying customers of the safety risk.

“Collectively, the brands have been working at full speed to build the infrastructure to facilitate the necessary action to ensure the safe service and repair of the affected appliances.

“If you smell gas or are concerned that your product poses a risk, you should contact the National Gas Emergency Helpline for your area or a Gas Safe registered installer.”

The helpline can be contacted on 0800 111 999 in England, Wales and Scotland, and 0800 002 001 in Northern Ireland.

It comes after a Traveller slammed “wannabe gypsies” giving the community a bad name – and even taking their caravan sites.

Meanwhile, a study from consumer watchdog Which? named a group of beachside holiday parks as the “best luxury caravan experience” in the UK.