“IT’S not unusual” are the words of a very popular song of about a generation ago. For me, ‘it’s not unusual’ to see reports in the media of house fires sometimes triggered by blazing electrical household gadgets.

One case – involving a dishwasher – was reported in your newspaper very recently.

The topic is of particular interest to me since, soon before Christmas last year, I purchased a new tumble-dryer direct from the manufacturer, at a special discounted price of £99, a price which was affordable to me fortunately.

The problem had arisen from a tumble-dryer purchased by me four years previously, costing just under £200, which turned out to be potentially dangerous through fire risk (this was taken by the manufacturer). I had the option of waiting quite a few months for my existing tumble-dryer to be made safe, an option I declined.

Some say more should be done, as there are very many potentially dangerous tumble-dryers out there in people’s homes.

There seems to be complacency, and the government – nationally and locally – should intervene sooner, rather than later.

Michael O'Neill

Railway Terrace

Penarth