A STARK safety warning has been issued after a sharp rise in fatal West Yorkshire fires caused by cigarettes and other smoking materials.

In 2015 there were 14 deaths following accidental fires in homes across West Yorkshire, 11 of which were caused by smoking materials.

Two of the fatal house fires were in Bradford.

Of the five West Yorkshire authorities, Bradford had the highest tally of injuries - 18 - caused in 2015 by smoking-related fires.

West Yorkshire Fire & Rescue Service is supporting the national Fire Kills campaign.

West Yorkshire's area manager for fire safety, Ian Bitcon (pictured), said: "Last year we saw a tragic and concerning spike in the number of fatal fires caused by smoking materials so we are very eager to make sure the national Fire Kills campaign hits home within West Yorkshire.

"Whilst modern cigarettes are designed to burn in such a way that they are less likely to cause a fire, the simple fact is that, in the right conditions, even these cigarettes will start a fire relatively easily and a large number of the fires that we see are caused by counterfeit or roll-up cigarettes.

"With that in mind it really is important that people understand the risk and make sure that cigarettes are properly extinguished."

Fire safety advice is to not smoke in bed and to install smoke alarms.