FAULTY Christmas lights have been blamed for causing a fire which damaged a child's bedroom.

Dramatic pictures show the damage caused by the fire to a family's home.

Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue service is now urging people to make sure their home is safe this Christmas.

Firefighters were called to reports of a blaze at a property in Fishweir Fields in Bradpole, near Bridport, at 7.25pm on Monday.

Two crews from Bridport attended the the incident.

A spokeswoman said on arrival, all persons were accounted for and nobody was injured.

The crews wore breathing kits and used a high pressure hose to extinguish the flames that badly damaged a child's bedroom.

Bridport Fire Station said that the occupants were alerted by working smoke detectors so managed to get out of the property.

A spokesman added that the fire was caused by an unknown brand of faulty Christmas lights.

Crews quickly extinguished the fire and left the scene before 9.30pm.

Pictures from the fire service show the room blackened and badly smoke damaged.

There was visible smoke damage from outside the property.

A spokesman for Bridport Fire Station said: "Please ensure you are safe this Christmas by following electrical safety guidance, never overload your sockets and by fitting working smoke detectors."

District councillor for the area and member of the fire authority, Cllr Ron Coatsworth, said it sounded like the family had a lucky escape and he wished them well.

He added: "I would urge residents to heed the warnings from the fire service about staying safe this Christmas and to be wary when buying electrical equipment.

"People who have questions about their home safety can contact the fire service for advice. Firefighters will also carry out free home safety checks and install smoke detectors."

The fire service is urging people to be safe this Christmas and has issued several pieces of advice.

Other advice from the service includes checking your Christmas lights are in good working order and conform to the British Safety Standard and to never overload electrical sockets.

People are urged to always switch Christmas lights off before going to bed or leaving a property.

Advice also includes never placing candles near your Christmas tree, decorations or furnishing and to never leave candles unattended.

It is also recommended to not hang decorations near lights or heaters as they can burn easily.

People are also urged never to take the battery out of smoke alarms for new toys on Christmas Day.

Other Christmas safety advice includes never leaving dinner cooking unattended and to make sure you switch the oven and hob off when the meal is done.

If you have guests make sure they know what to do in the event of an emergency and how to get out of the house.

All year round, but especially in the run up to Christmas, people are asked to make sure they check their smoke alarm and the alarm of elderly relatives and neighbours.

For more information on staying safe at Christmas go to www.rospa.com