RESIDENTS have been urged to lookout for elderly neighbours after a spike in house fires showed they are at increased risk of being hurt.

Figures for the West Dunbartonshire area show that there were 100 accidental blazes in a six month period from April to December 2015.

Of these 88 happened in kitchens and 34 involved pensioners who lived alone.

And 52 of the 100 emergencies occurred in Clydebank alone, leaving nine people hurt.

During the same six months the previous year there were 34 such in Clydebank and just one casualty - representing a worrying rise.

In the hope of reversing the trend people are being asked to elderly neighbours in touch with fire fighters, especially those with mobility problems who are more likely to be injured or killed if there was a fire in their home.

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service will fit smoke alarms and sometimes heat detectors in the homes of particularly vulnerable people.

Jim Hymas, SFRS area manager, said: "Fire can strike anywhere but the factors that put someone at increased risk are very well known.

"Older people often live on their own and if they have limited mobility or are affected by other health conditions then they can be more likely to experience a fire and be hurt, or even killed, as a result.

"There are things we can do to help them stay safe but those who are most at risk from fire can be reluctant to ask for help.

"If anyone has a relative, friend or neighbour who could be vulnerable then please put us in touch with them; because it really could save their life."

Fire fighters have also urging all residents never to walk away while something is on the hob or under the grill after figures showed the majority of fire start in kitchens.

More than a thousand home fire safety visits were carried out by fire crews across West Dunbartonshire in the last six months of 2015, with almost 550 smoke alarms fitted in the process.

Mr Hymas added: "Early warning buys vital time for people to get to safety and for firefighters to get to the scene before a tragedy happens.

"More people having adequate protection does mean we are increasingly called to minor incidents that in the past may have went unreported, but it also saves lives and helps prevent the destruction of homes and the devastating loss of irreplaceable possessions.

"That’s why our crews provide and install free smoke alarms where they’re found to be needed and why we are investing in heat detectors, which are being fitted in the homes of those most vulnerable to a kitchen fire."

Free home fire safety visits are available by calling 0800 073 1999, texting ‘FIRE’ to 80800 or filling in a form at www.firescotland.gov.uk.