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Fire service warns of risk of oil residues in tumble dryers

The warning comes after several recent incidents where clothing and towels from spas and restaurants Credit: PA

Cambridgeshire Fire Service are urging people to remove oil residues from clothing before being placed into tumble dryers.

The warning comes after towels were placed in an industrial dryer at a local business and the heat caused the oils to combust, setting fire to the materials and causing a fire inside the drum of the dryer.

The service has made contact with pubs and restaurants across the county to highlight the potential dangers.

The fire service has issued the following safety tips;

Items such as towels that have been used in the beauty and spa industry can become contaminated with treatment oils. Washing them at low temperatures means these substances are not always completely removed. If the towels are then placed in a tumble dryer at high temperatures, they can overheat and catch fire.

Whilst you have to adhere to the manufacturer’s recommendations when washing clothes and towels, it is important that they are washed at a temperature that is high enough to remove the oils from them before placing them into a tumble dryer.

– Station Commander Giles Grainger, Fire Protection Manager
  • Ensure wash temperatures and detergents are suitable for the optimum removal of oil-based contaminants
  • Allow laundry to complete the cooling cycle in the tumble dryer, shaking out laundry to ventilate before folding
  • Ensure stack or pile is well ventilated
  • Make sure you have a smoke alarm on each floor of your premises and that it is test regularly.

Extra patrols along Southend beach on Bank Holiday weekend

Hundreds will flock to the beach as the weather sets to get warmer Credit: ITV News Anglia

Extra patrols will be in place in Southend over the Bank Holiday weekend.

It's to make sure people are kept safe on the beach and roads during the busy period.

Visitors are being warned of potential delays to the seaside town.

Southend-on-Sea is one of the region's most popular seaside destinations and welcomes more than six million visitors each year.

Our preparations are all about providing a safe and pleasant visitor experience that leaves people wanting to return to our town.

We want to make it as easy as possible for visitors to reach the seafront, respond swiftly if children become lost from their parents, keep our town and award-winning beaches as clean as possible and prevent people coming to harm when visiting the beach.

– Scott Dolling, Director for Culture, Tourism and Property at Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

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Cambridge among world's most expensive cities for student housing

Cambridge has been ranked as the eighth most expensive city in the world for student housing. Credit: ITV News Anglia

Cambridge has been ranked as one of the top ten most expensive cities in the world for student housing.

It has the eighth highest weekly rental spend, with students having to pay $272 on average.

The research was conducted by the website Student.com, which surveyed students from 92 cities across the world.

New York was named as the most expensive city. London and Oxford also made the top ten, in second and sixth place respectively.

The findings came from research conducted by the website Student.com Credit: ITV News Anglia

"It's evident that the big urban centres around the world remain huge magnets for both international and domestic students.

"On average, students pay more to live in these cities, but that's not to say that there aren't more affordable options available.

"Cities with larger supplies of purpose-built student accommodation tend to be, on average, more affordable than cities that are under supplied.

– Luke Nolan, Chief Executive, Student.com

Council approves 'masterplan' to transform Great Yarmouth

The plan is to enhance the historic town centre for the 21st century Credit: ITV News Anglia

A masterplan to transform Great Yarmouth town centre has been approved by the Borough Council.

Councillors want to make the historic town centre a destination where more people choose to live, work and spend their money.

The aim is for the developments to be in place by 2025.

The areas which will be improved are:

  • Strengthening the Heart of the Town Centre
  • Improving the market and Market Place
  • Transforming the Conge
  • Creating a sense of arrival at the town centre
  • Unlocking the potential of Hall Plain

Lack of choice blamed for fewer people buying houses

Fewer people are buying and selling houses in the East of England. Credit: ITV News Anglia

The number of houses being bought and sold in the East of England is declining, with industry leaders blaming the lack of choice for new buyers.

The number of enquiries about homes and newly agreed sales fell during April, according to research by the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors.

Uncertainty due to the upcoming general election and the ramifications of stamp duty changes were also blamed for fewer people buying houses.

Lack of choice for new buyers is being blamed for the decline in house buying. Credit: ITV News Anglia

"The bulk of the feedback we are receiving points to a fairly flat summer for both activity and prices.

"Lack of stock on the market remains a key challenge for the sector with recent and forthcoming tax changes having a material impact on transaction levels, particularly at higher price points.

"Uncertainty relating to the forthcoming general election is also highlighted by some respondents as a reason for inertia."

– Simon Rubinsohn, Chief Economist, Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors
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