Firefighters attended a blaze in Copthorne at the weekend.

Crews arrived at the home in Roffeys Close Sunday evening shortly before 7 o’clock to find a gas barbecue and gas cylinder well alight.

It was deemed accidental and West Sussex Fire and Rescue Service have issued the following advice:

• Make sure your barbecue is in good working order.
• Ensure the barbecue is on a flat site, well away from a shed, trees or shrubs.
• Keep children, garden games and pets well away from the cooking area.
• Never leave the barbecue unattended.
• Make sure the tap is turned off before changing the gas cylinder.
• Change cylinders outdoors if possible or in a well ventilated area.
• If you suspect a leak to the cylinder or pipe work, brush soapy water around the joints and watch for bubbles – tighten to fix but do not over tighten.
• After cooking, turn off the gas cylinder before turning off at the controls to ensure any residual gas in the pipe work is used up.