WE’VE all seen the adverts telling us to install a smoke alarm, but how many of us pay heed? Even though we are four times more likely to die in a house fire without one, far too many people continue to take the risk.

Fortunately, Michael and Lynsey Ward took no such gamble. When a fire broke out in their home at 1am yesterday, Michael, Lynsey, their two teenage sons and dog Max managed to escape without serious injury, despite flames raging around them. And all because they fitted a smoke alarm.

As Lynsey says, you can replace stuff, but you can’t replace a life. So, please, arrange to install one today.