Experts have warned consumers to be vigilant when buying electrical goods after a phone charger bought in a north-east town exploded.
Trading Standards officers say they have recently received two complaints about a type of phone charger sold in the area.
Aberdeenshire residents are now being asked to check any non-branded phone chargers they own which could belong to the faulty series.
A spokesman for Trading Standards said: “One of these chargers was bought locally in Banff and when it was plugged into the device there was a white flash, loud bang and the back of the charger blew off.
“The charger is a USB type and has the serial number A1299. If this model is found, stop using it immediately and return it to the retailer.”
Last night an officer said that the faulty charger has been removed by Trading Standards for further investigation.
There has been an increase in the number of incidents being reported about faulty electrical goods, particularly fake, cheap or unbranded chargers.
Now that modern households have so many different types of electrical goods – from televisions and fridges to telephones and tablets – the risk of electric shock or electrical fires has increased.
Research by Electrical Safety First shows that product misuse is the top cause of accidental fires in British homes and the number has increased by more than a third since 2009.
Emma Apter, from Electrical Safety First, said: “We understand that people purchase cheap, unofficial chargers in order to make a short-term saving but the costs can be so much greater in the long run.
“These chargers have the potential to cause electrocution, burns and even house fires so you have to ask whether it is worth the risk just to save a few pounds.
“Lives are at stake so the message is clear – buy a genuine charger from a reputable retailer in order to minimise the risk to you and your loved ones”.
Consumers with concerns about chargers or other faulty electrical goods are now been urged to contact the Citizens Advice consumer helpline.