A SCHEME that helps to prevent the causes of house fires has been relaunched.

Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service's free Home Fire Risk Check (HFRC) was launched in June 2008 to provide advice on home fire safety. The team has so far arranged more than 25,000 free checks at homes across the county.

The re-branded initiative, which launched yesterday, will see freshly designed vouchers replace the scheme's original postcards while a fleet of 13 new vehicles will travel the county giving out advice.

It is hoped the campaign will encourage more people to book free checks.

Risk reduction officer Steve Leech said: "Our life saving service is free and one telephone call is all it takes. "Unfortunately many older people in the community don't know we are here and how we can help them. Our new look campaign targets the over-65s and we needed to find a way to get our message out to them in an attractive, clear and interesting way."

To book an assessment call 0800 0241 999.