ONE hundred families in Marlborough are to get free smoke alarms courtesy of the town's unique Fire Forum.

The forum was established following the huge blaze in June 1998 that gutted the rank of buildings in the High Street on the south side opposite the town hall.

Former town councillor Len Bulley, who was mayor at the time, shared the concern of Wiltshire's chief fire officer John Craig, now retired, regarding the ease at which fires spread in the historic wooden-framed High Street buildings.

They set up the Marlborough Fire Forum believed to be the only one of its kind in Britain to encourage property owners and tenants to do more about fire safety.

The forum organised a daytime fire safety exhibition in the town hall last November and is planning to hold a similar event on the evening of the Spirit of Christmas late night shopping event in early December.

Last week, the fire forum members, chaired by Mayor Margaret Boulton, decided to give away 100 smoke alarms to Marlborough homes.

They will be paid for out of funds the forum received from Wiltshire County Council, Kennet District Council and Marlborough Town Council. A coupon to obtain one of the alarms will be appearing in the Gazette within the next few weeks.

Station Officer David Ward, the Marlborough Fire Station commander, said firefighters would be happy to visit homes to advise on the best place to site the alarms.