The government is temporarily banning the sale of disposable barbecues due to the current heatwave. The measure comes as single-use grills "have been the cause of a number of serious wildfires across the country over the summer months", advice published online by the Government said.
It added: "Disposable barbecues cannot be considered a safe product in the context of the ongoing weather and environmental conditions and must not be made available for sale either in store or online at the current time."
Prime Minister's earlier suggestion
Prime Minister Andy Burnham had suggested earlier in the week that such a measure could be introduced. Earlier this week Mr Burnham urged retailers to withdraw disposable barbecues from sale in an effort to prevent wildfires.
He said: "The big risk in terms of risk to the wider regions across the country is the risk of wildfires. What we are seeing is multiple serious incidents across the country.
"Fire services, by and large, are supporting each other through mutual aid to deal with those incidents but we are keeping a very close watching brief on them.
Retailers urged to comply
"There is advice to the public here not to use disposable barbecues. We have today confirmed through the National Fire Chiefs Council that the framework restricting the retail sale of those disposable barbecues is being extended.
"Now I would ask all retailers big and small to adhere to that framework.
"Longer term we will look at whether a temporary ban in the summer months is justified."
