Shopping sparks Shadwell gas alert

SHOPPING bags hung on a gas cooker sparked a fire brigade after the gas was accidently turned on by the weight of the bags. A neighbour called the fire brigade after smelling gas late at night and firefighters had to knock on several doors in a block of

SHOPPING bags hung on a gas cooker sparked a fire brigade after the gas was accidently turned on by the weight of the bags.

A neighbour called the fire brigade after smelling gas late at night and firefighters had to knock on several doors in a block of flats in Jubilee Street, Shadwell to find out where the problem was.

They were called out just before midnight on Thursday and discovered that the resident had gone to bed and had left the shopping hanging on the cooker.

Fire fighters advise people to have a bedtime routine to check that the tv is turned off, check that candles are out and ashtrays safe and that the gas is off - and there's nothing dangerous left on the cooker.

They also offer fire safety checks to reduce the risk of fire.