Residents shocked as TVs catch fire

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Almost 400 properties in the North West were left without electricity following a power surge which caused washing machines and televisions to catch fire.

Firefighters received more than 70 call outs from worried residents in Bolton who had seen electrical appliances burst into flames.

The dangerous power surge was caused by thieves who stole a vital copper safety component, worth just 20 pounds, from a power sub-station. The cost to replace damaged items could run into tens of thousands of pounds, with residents and home insurance companies picking up the bill.

May Wilkinson, 65, and her husband Albert Knight, 70, told how their microwave shot flames across the kitchen and their TV set-top box billowed smoke.

The properties in the Westhoughton area were cut off by energy supplier United Utilities until the part was replaced.

Mrs Wilkinson, of Southfield Drive, Westhoughton, said: "It shook me up, you don't expect to see smoke coming out of your television.

"I was just making myself a cup of coffee at about 8am and I put my television on. Then suddenly I heard a 'poof' noise.

"At first I thought, 'What was that?', and sat down in my chair.

"Then I saw smoke coming out of my digi-box and I jumped up quick and turned off the box at the plug.

"Shortly afterwards my husband was in the kitchen, and he saw a huge flame come out of the microwave. It frightened him to death."

The alarm was first raised at around 8am when people called the fire service to report their appliances had started smoking and catching fire.

Copyright © Press Association 2010

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