Firefighters in Hertfordshire are warning people to make sure they have a plan for getting out of their homes in case of fire.

The county's chief fire officer Steve Seaber said: "Thinking about how you would escape from your home can increase your chances of surviving a house fire. By making a plan and installing a working smoke alarm, you can save yourself valuable time to escape before it is too late."

People are being encouraged to work out a fire action plan, but identifying practical escape routes, making sure everybody in the house can be roused, ensuring exits are kept clear, working out when it would be safer to stay put, and practising the action plan.