Fire service's alarm testing hand sticks

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is giving out 10,000 plastic finger pointing hands on sticks to encourage people to test their fire alarms.

The brigade spent £17,500 on the sticks to help elderly and immobile people to test their smoke alarms.

The sticks, which have a plastic hand with an outstretched finger on the end, are to be used to press the test button on ceiling mounted alarms.

The service says that last year, alarms were fitted but failed to operate in 18% of the house fires they attended.

Rob Quin, who is in charge of community safety at the fire service, spoke to Oliver Hides.