Alert issued over faulty cookers

More than 3,000 faulty gas cookers which have been linked to fatal carbon monoxide poisoning incidents remain untraced, a consumer watchdog has warned.

The National Consumer Agency today issued an alert to locate the cookers which were sold in the Republic since 2003.

The Beko, Flavel, Leisure and New World gas cooker models, sold with separate oven and grill, can release carbon monoxide when the grill is operated with the door closed. At least six deaths in Ireland and the UK have been linked to this issue.

Despite a major media campaign last year, at least 3,000 of the more than 7,500 cookers remain unaccounted for.

"The remaining cookers pose a serious threat, so we're urgently calling on consumers to check if their cooker is affected and to contact the manufacturer's helpline to arrange for the cooker to be made safe," NCA chief executive, Ann Fitzgerald, said.

"With the holiday season in full swing, we are urging people staying in holiday homes or mobile homes to check the cookers,” Ms Fitzgerald said.

"We would also call on landlords or letting agents, who may be renting their accommodation out to students, to check the cookers in their premises as many of the cookers involved were entry-level models, and may have been purchased by landlords for rented accommodation.

We would also urge people to bring this warning to the attention of elderly relatives and neighbours and, ideally, do the check on their behalf," she said.

Consumers are advised they can arrange for a free safety inspection and modification by calling the following numbers:

- For Beko, Flavel and Leisure cookers, freephone 1800 25 29 25 (9am-8pm Monday-Friday, 10am-4pm Saturday-Sunday)

- For New World cookers, freephone 1800 569 569 (9am-5pm Monday-Friday)

Affected models:

Beko models:

· DCG8511WLPG

· DCG8511PLW

· DG581LWP

Flavel models:

· DCGAP5LS

· AP5LDWP

· AP5LDW

· AP5LDSP

Leisure models:

· CM10NRK

· CM10NRC

New World models:

· 50TWLM SV LPG

· 50WLM WH LPG

· 50WLM SV LPG

· 50TWLM WH LPG