WILTSHIRE Fire Brigade is urging all householders to fit a smoke alarm in their property.

The call comes as the results of a survey were published showing that the smoke alarm was voted the best innovation of the last 20 years.

Almost 70 per cent of those who took part in the survey organised by online bank Cahoot voted for the smoke alarm above gadgets such as mobile phones and digital cameras.

Wiltshire Fire Brigade has for the last 20 years been actively promoting the benefits of having at least one working smoke alarm in every home.

The success of smoke alarm campaigns has seen ownership rise to 86 per cent across the county compared to a national average of eight per cent in 1988.

Assistant divisional officer Andrew Hargreaves said smoke alarms can make the difference between someone surviving a house fire or dying.

He said: "Smoke alarms are life savers. They buy occupants time because they can detect fires in the early stages. And it's the time that people need to get out of their home.

"Without a smoke alarm people can die in their sleep from smoke inhalation, they may not even wake up, that's how quick someone can die."