WEST Yorkshire fire service has issued a warning about the dangers of putting combustible items on cooker hobs following over 100 accidental fires.

Firefighters have seen an increase in kitchen fires where people have placed items onto a cooker surface in order to use it as extra workspace and it is then accidentally turned on.

Of 124 incidents in West Yorkshire since August 2014, 29 were in Bradford, 23 in Kirklees and 11 in Calderdale.

In 77 per cent of cases an electric powered hob has been involved.

As a result of the fires, 19 people have been injured, although none of them seriously. Twelve of those injured were over 65 years of age.

The above figures do not include typical ‘cooking fires,’ which have occurred due to cooking being left unattended.

Fire investigation officer Lee Miller said: "The flat design of modern electric powered hobs allows occupants to use them as extra kitchen workspace if required.

"However, if combustible materials are left on or adjacent to a hob, it can pose a significant fire risk.

"This has resulted in 124 fires where the hob has been accidentally turned on when items are on top of it.

"These items range from chopping boards to clothing, cardboard boxes, plastic bags and tea towels. In a small number of cases cats or dogs have been blamed for accidentally turning the hob on."

The majority of the fires have been contained to the item ignited, but there is always the potential for a serious fire to develop, said Mr Miller.