MORE than one in three Glasgow homes are at a high risk of fire.

Safety experts visited almost 6000 properties across the city in the past year, and close to 40% were deemed as potentially dangerous.

Firefighters said hazards included stacks of news-papers blocking doors and people smoking in bed.

Watch Commander Kevin Rennie, who works in community safety for Strathclyde Fire & Rescue, said: "We have visited 5700 homes and nearly 40% of those were deemed high risk.

"We are working to tackle these homes as they present a danger, not only to the householder, but also to any neighbouring properties."

Fire bosses in Glasgow carry out free home fire safety visits in a bid to reduce accidental blazes.

Officers also fit smoke alarms. Last year, these were fitted during 60% of home visits.

High-risk homes are those in which people drink heavily, smoke, cook late at night or are extremely cluttered – what firefighters call "high fire loading".

During the past five years, house fires in Glasgow have dropped by 13% from 990 in 2001/02 to 866 in 2011/12.