Which? is telling consumers not to buy two FireAngel brand smoke alarms after they failed a fire test.
The consumer organisation says the FireAngel LSI-601 Escape Light and SI-601 Easy to Silence models failed to go off as required under the British Standard in a smouldering wood fire test.

Which? has now branded the two alarms 'Don't Buys' and has passed its findings on to Trading Standards. It has also alerted the supplier, Sprue Safety Products, which is conducting its own investigations.

However, one other FireAngel alarm tested emerged as a 'Best Buy'.

In total, Which? tested 15 of the most widely available domestic battery smoke alarms, from Kidde, First Alert, Ei Electronics and FireAngel.

The products were put through rigorous British Standard tests - four different types of fire, from a cigarette smouldering on a sofa to a petrol fire. They were also tested for loudness and whether the light could be seen in smoke, and assessed on their ease of use, from clarity of instructions to battery installation and ceiling fixing.

Prices of the products varied from £6.50 to £20.99, but Which? found that paying more did not guarantee the best smoke alarm. In fact, the Kidde 19040 Lifesaver Compact, at £6.50, achieved joint top score with the 19060 Alarm with Hush Button, also by Kidde, at £8.50.

The other two top buys were the FireAngel ST-620 Thermoptek 10 Year Life alarm and First Alert SA700 Long Life No Nuisance alarm.

Commenting on the findings, Which? editor Richard Headland said: "We advise people not to buy the two FireAngel smoke alarm models that failed to meet the required standard in one of our tests. If you think you have one installed at home and you're concerned, you can contact the manufacturer for a free alternative."