Cornwall safety officers have advised people to finish one essential Christmas chore: Don’t forget to complete your gift guarantee registration cards supplied with your new electrical gift, child’s toy or larger appliance.

Trading standards officers say: ’Completing a few key details by post, on line or by free phone, may save your life.

’Suppliers can only inform you of product recalls or if there is a potential risk with the product you have purchased if you have taken the time to complete the guarantee registration process. In the event of a dangerous issue you would be directly contactable and know immediately to stop using it.’

Cornwall Council’s cabinet member for communities, Geoff Brown, said: ’Cornwall Trading Standards and Cornwall Fire and Rescue service work hard all year to protect local consumers from risk.  It can be years later that a fault is found so we regularly update our internet and social media pages with known recalls.’

Generic websites like www.registermyappliance.org.uk can help you register your existing appliances as well as new.