‘Is your electric blanket safe?’ – that was the question firefighters were left asking after 40% of the blankets brought in to recent testing events failed a routine safety check.

West Sussex Fire & Rescue Service held more than a dozen free testing events around the county between May and December. 166 of the 412 electric blankets tested were found to be potentially dangerous.

Blankets over 10 years old are the most potentially dangerous and if you have one of these, either replace it with a new one or have it tested. You can find a list of testing stations at :

westsussex dot gov dot uk / fire.

A woman who was walking along the M25 was killed after she was believed to have been in collision with a vehicle.

The incident happened just before 3am yesterday morning (Sunday 11 January) near Junction 13 at Staines.

A man driving a black Volkswagen Golf, which was found nearby, was arrested for failing to stop following an accident and providing a positive breath test.

Shortly afterwards, there was a second collision involving 4 vehicles including a minibus.

The M25 was closed for several hours anti-clockwise from Junction 14 at Heathrow Airport to Junction 12 at Chertsey.

Police are appealing for anyone who saw the female pedestrian walking in the area or along the motorway prior to the collision, or anyone who witnessed either of the collisions, to contact the Collision Investigation Unit straightaway on 01483 632299, quoting incident reference P15008681.

Machinery worth several thousands of pounds has been stolen from a yard in Tandridge.

The equipment was taken overnight between 6th and 7th January from a container on Queens Park Road.

Officers believe the offenders may have visited the site at least three occasions before the theft took place.

An investigation is underway following a series of arson attacks on cars in Redhill.

Damage was caused to a Ford Mondeo, Renault Clio and Vauxhall Corsa during three incidents which occurred overnight between 6th and 7th January.

The offender gained access to the vehicles on The Frenches, Bletchingley Road and Albury Road and attempted to set them alight.

Anyone who witnessed anything suspicious is asked to contact Surrey Police.