PHOTO: Outdoor plug socket causes fire

Firefighters have given safety advice after an outdoor plug socket caught fire in a garden in Colchester yesterday.

Crews were called to a house in Redwood Close in Colchester at 5:14pm and found a fire in the garden.

Crews extinguished the fire by 5:36pm.

Firefighters believe the fire was caused by an outdoor socket that had been affected by water.

Crew Manager Andy Edwards from Colchester Fire Station said: “If you’re going to be using outdoor plug sockets, make sure you don’t overload the plug sockets with more power than they can take. Make sure the socket housing is closed properly to prevent water affecting the sockets and make sure all electrical items outside are suitable for outdoor use.”

Read more electrical safety advice here.