Thousands of tumble dryers are to be serviced after they were found to be a potential fire risk.

Italian firm Indesit made the announcement today after reviewing the safety of some of its products.

The company was taken over by Whirlpool in October last year and conducted a through safety review including customer reports of malfunctions.

So which brands are affected?

The fault affects dryers sold under Indesit's own name and its Hotpoint and Creda brands between April 2004 and October this year.

What is the problem?

In some rare cases excess fluff can come into contact with the dryer's heating element and present a risk of fire.

Indesit has already made changes to its manufacturing process to ensure dryers produced after October 2015 are not affected.

Should I stop using the dryer then?

The company says it is okay to continue using its dryers prior to servicing as long as they are not left unattended.

Tumble dryer users are advised to ensure their machine is kept free of excess fluff.

What action can I take?

Contact Indesit on 0800 151 0905 or visit safety.hotpoint.eu or safety.indesit.eu to arrange for a free service visit so the modifications can be made.