Figures have been released showing the financial damage caused by fires involving white goods, with several south London boroughs among the worst affected.

Firefighters have attended 2,072 incidents involving washing machines, fridges and other appliances since 2011, almost one blaze a day.

Taking into account factors such as damage caused and the cost of the fire service response, it has been calculated each domestic fire costs the economy £57,000.

This means fires involving white goods have cost the capital’s economy more than £118 million over the past five years, according to London Fire Brigade.

The worst-hit borough has been Croydon, with 114 incidents at a cost of more than £6.5 million.

Lewisham, Bromley and Wandsworth are also in the top 10 with costs of more than £4m.

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The 10 London boroughs worst affected by white goods fires. Figures from London Fire Brigade

The table above shows the figures for south London boroughs

The figures come a week after the brigade published the findings of its investigation into a tower block fire in Shepherd’s Bush that happened in August.

It concluded a faulty Indesit tumble dryer subject to a safety notice was the cause.

Advice has been given that people can still use the affected dryers while waiting for them to be modified so long as they are not left unattended.

The brigade has said it “strongly disagrees” with this guidance and is urging people to stop using the machines immediately.

London Fire Commissioner Ron Dobson said: "The recent tumble dryer blaze in Shepherd's Bush showed the devastation white goods fires can cause and now we see the huge cost of them to the public purse.

"There is a serious lack of awareness about the potential dangers posed by faulty white goods and manufacturers are lagging far behind when it comes to prioritising fire resistance in their designs.”

The brigade is currently running a campaign called Total Recalls which is pushing for various changes to make white good safer and highlighting the “inadequacies” of product recalls.

People are encouraged to write to their write to their MP to share stories about white goods fires or concerns they have.