THERE have been 62 fires at takeaways and small shops in East Lancashire during the past year, it has been revealed.

And one fire expert said that the recession should not be used as an excuse for businesses cutting back on safety.

Brian Gregory, managing director of Safety Management UK, said simple and inexpensive investments could save thousands of pounds – or even the business itself.

Mr Gregory said: “The sheer number of fires suggests a large number of shops are leaving safety to chance.

“Small businesses are feeling the pressure of the recession and they are looking to save money where they can, but putting fire safety to the bottom of their priorities is a false economy.

“Fire safety needs to be a priority. Letting things slide to save money is a gamble and those that lose pay a really high price, as we have seen recently.”

He said non-compliance of statutory regulations could leave business owners with hefty fines of thousands of pounds if the rules are ignored.

“Without understanding and controlling the hazards within their retail outlet owners are increasing the probability of a fire starting.

“Even poorly prioritising inexpensive housekeeping chores such as deep cleans can cause fires which could have devastating results.

“We are sympathetic with small businesses and we realise it is all down to cost, but many are prioritising the wrong areas.

“If you are fortunate enough to avoid the fire, and you get caught on the enforcement issue, you could get a significant charge. Fines average around £3.000 per offence and can mount up very quickly.”

He said professional advice was available, but said a wealth of information is available free of charge online.