FIRE prevention staff will be teaming up with nurses and other medical workers in Bradford to help prevent fire-related deaths among mental health patients.

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service and Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust will is visiting patients' homes this week as part of Mental Health Awareness Week to give fire prevention advice, support and interventions.

In 2014/15 the partnership generated 65 referrals for Home Fire Safety Checks.

Thomas Rhodes, district prevention manager for Bradford, said: “We hope this partnership will identify people who may be vulnerable to fire in the home and provide early intervention, thus preventing a tragedy further down the line.”

Karen Byard, who is Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust's fire officer, said: “ We have been working in partnership with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service for over two years. This has improved fire safety for patients and staff. The fire service has worked on our in-patient wards with patients highlighting fire safety awareness.”