FIREFIGHTERS have issued a warning to people who like an all-year-round tan after a blaze broke out in a sun bed.

Marilyn Cockrane had a lucky escape yesterday as she lay dozing under the canopy of the sun bed and smelled smoke.

An electrical short circuit in one the tubes had caused a fire which spread to the rest of the sun bed and bed clothes. Mrs Cockrane, 37, called for help at her home in Grosvenor Drive, Little Hulton, and firefighters managed to confine damage to the sun bed and the bedding. Sub officer Mike Sutherland said this should serve as a warning to other sun bed owners to make sure the equipment is safe.

He said: "This is the first time I have come across a fire with a sun bed.

"But like all electrical equipment there is a chance they they can become faulty so people must be very careful and get sun beds regularly checked.

"This lady was extremely lucky she woke when she did or she could have been badly hurt."

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