Did you know that cooking food is the cause of over half of all accidental fires in the home in North Wales - and that this figure rises to over 58% in the Wrexham region, where there's the highest number of cooking related fires per head of population?

That's why North Wales Fire and Rescue Service is launching a new campaign today to help combat this shocking statistic.

The 'Time it right - Don't set it alight!' campaign highlights the dangers of getting distracted whilst you are preparing food and the risks involved with leaving your cooking unattended.

Forgetting to turn off the hob, leaving food in the microwave for too long, overheating a chip pan, burning the toast, leaving the oven on - all of these can spell disaster in the kitchen and can lead to serious injury or, even more worryingly, the loss of life.

That's why firefighters will be out and about over the next two months talking to shoppers about how to stay safe in the kitchen and providing free kitchen timers to encourage people to think safe when they are cooking and to remember to time their cooking correctly.

A high profile advertisement campaign on the back of buses travelling in and around Wrexham, linked to a leafleting campaign in local schools, will hopefully draw people to local supermarkets in the town on Fridays where Fire and Rescue Service staff will be on hand to provide potentially life saving advice to shoppers.

Paul Whybro from North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: "It is our responsibility to do everything we can to highlight this statistic but when it comes to changing behaviour to keep safe - we can only advise and then it is up to you, the individual, to make sure you heed our advice.

"Time and time again we attend house fires which have started in the kitchen - it is so easy to forget your cooking, especially if you are tired, distracted or have been drinking. But the consequences can be devastating.

"So please take notice of our campaign, come along to see us at a supermarket near you - we'll provide you with a useful kitchen timer and the chance to win a hamper full of luxury items in our competition.

"And don't forget - smoke alarms save lives. For a free home fire safety check call our 24 hour freephone number on 0800 169 1234.

These are our top tips for safety in the kitchen:

- If you leave the room take the cooking off the heat
- Don't use matches or lighters to light gas cookers. Spark devices are safer
- Always make sure that any handles are turned away from the edge of the cooker
- Keep the over, hob and grill clean - a build up fat and grease can easily catch fire
- Never hang anything to dry above the cooker
- Take care if you are wearing loose clothing as it can easily catch fire
- When you've finished cooking make sure everything is turned off
- Turn off electrical appliances when they are not being used
- Never use a chip pan - use a thermostatically controlled deep far fryer
- Get fitted with smoke alarms - they are free of charge and could save your life."

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service staff will be available to provide you with advice:

February 17 Morrisons (launch)
March 2 Lidl Mold Rd
March 9 Tesco
March 16 Cooltrader
March 23 Lidl Wrexham Rd
March 30 Asda
April 13 Aldi