Police and fire chiefs have pledged to catch a conman who is putting a vital fire safety message at risk.

The man, posing as a smoke alarm expert, has targeted homes in Bradford, Bingley and Baildon.

He offers to check smoke alarms, then insists they are faulty and tries to sell a replacement for £35 - although alarms can be bought for just £3 and installed easily in a few minutes.

The man has called at homes in Heaton, Manningham, Thornton, Lidget Green, Allerton, Clayton and Crossflatts, along with houses in Bingley and Baildon.

Today, fire chiefs started to hit back by offering free home risk assessments and smoke detectors to the public.

Deputy Chief Officer Malcolm Saunders said: "What we have here is a very dangerous person, preying on people's fire safety fears, simply so he can make some quick money. This scam man is a sham and we are determined that he shall not get away with perverting the fire safety message.

"Smoke alarms save lives and every home should have at least one fitted. This man simply rips people off, so anyone approached by him should note a description and contact West Yorkshire Trading Standards or the police.

"We are letting people know that all they have to do is contact us and we will put their minds at ease with a free home risk assessment. We will even provide smoke alarms and fit smoke detectors for free where needed."

Sergeant Roy Wensley, of Toller Lane police, urged people to check identification of people calling at their doors and if they were still unsure, to contact the organisation they claim to be from.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.