HOUSEHOLDERS in Cumbria are being urged to check if they own one of the tumble dryers affected by a safety notice. 

Following Whirlpool's acquisition of the Hotpoint/Indesit brands, Indesit Company has reviewed the safety of its product portfolio.

As part of this review the company has identified a potential concern with two types of tumble dryers manufactured between April 2004 and September 2015. 

The company said in some rare cases, excess fluff can come into contact with the heating element and present a risk of fire.

Hotpoint said: "We are activating an extensive consumer outreach and service action plan in order to provide our consumers with products that are updated to higher safety and quality standards. We will arrange a visit from an engineer, free of charge, to modify your appliance. The service call will take approximately one hour. The improvements we believe are necessary will further enhance the safety and quality of your dryer.

"In the meantime consumers may continue to use their products, provided that appliances are not left unattended whilst operating. We also remind customers of the need for proper cleaning and maintenance, as outlined in the user manual."

Visit Hotpoint's website  to enter the details of your tumble dryer.