SAFETY messages about the danger of chip pans appear to be working after a drop in emergency calls, a fire chief has said.

The number of chip pan fires in Lancashire fell from 179 in 2003 to 123 last year.

The number of people injured by the fires fell from 100 to 20.

But out of five people who died in a fire caused by a chip pan, three were in 2006.

A spokesman for Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service said: "The evidence clearly shows that there is a dramatic reduction in people injured by chip pan fires since 2003."

He said: Cooking chips in a hob-top pan is a hazardous business. Late at night, it can be fatal.

"Think about it. You're back from a night out. You're tired and relaxed. Maybe you've been drinking alcohol.

"You've had a great time but you're hungry. Don't get the chip pan out - it could be the death of you or a loved one."