The fire service has issued advice over barbecues due to a high fire severity warning.

West Sussex Fire and Rescue has urged caution after the Met Office reported a very high fire severity index across the county.

This means that any fire breakouts would be of “exceptional severity” and could spiral into a dangerous situation.

The service has warned anyone who is having a barbecue to follow safety advice due to their “huge fire risk”.

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Disposable barbecue users should exercise caution when throwing the unit away, ensuring it has sufficiently cooled and soaking it with water before discarding it.

They should also only be used outside on a flat surface that won’t set alight and away from flammable materials.

People using a gas or charcoal grill should check instructions to ensure they are using the correct method of ignition and should never use petrol or paraffin.

For gas barbecues, always check it is turned off before changing the cylinder.

The service also stressed that any barbecue should never be left unattended.