AS the weather heats up, revellers are being urged to be careful with their barbecues.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) is reminding people of simple safety tips for a fun and accident-free barbecue.

RoSPA is advising barbecue lovers to make sure the barbecue is strong and sturdy, in good condition, consider its location, and not to light a barbecue in an enclosed space.

Sheila Merrill, RoSPA’s public health adviser, said: “By taking a few simple precautions, you can ensure that you have fun, eat well, and stay out of A&E.

“Hopefully, the good weather will continue throughout the summer, and taking care with barbecues will mean that everyone stays safe to enjoy it.

“In particular, in the midst of all the extra distractions, don’t forget to keep an eye on any young children.”

People are also being asked to prepare the barbecue early to ensure it is at the right temperature by the time you want to cook, take particular care in hot weather to reduce the risk of a grass fire, never pour petrol or methylated spirit on a barbecue, use long-handed tools, be wary of metal parts and never leave children unsupervised near a barbecue.

Finally, people are asked to make sure the coals have cooled down before leaving it unattended or putting the coals in the bin.