Industry professionals who have taken electrician training courses and have approved qualifications could find themselves in increasing demand over the Christmas period, it has been revealed by Benjamin Franklin Electric.

According to the electrical supplier's Patrick O'Neill, the risk of household fires grows dramatically over Christmas, due to people overloading their electricity systems with festive lights and decorations, as well as keeping more flammable materials - like wrapping paper - in the home than usual.

He added that people should ensure that homeowners seek the help of a professional if they are worried about problems with their electricity.

"If you're not sure that your electrical system is up to the task of added current running inside and outside the house, you'd be wise to get it checked out by a licensed electrical contractor," he said.

According to figures from Direct Line, there were 61 per cent more household fires during December 2007 than in the average summer month during the next year.

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