TRADERS in East Lancashire are breaking the law by not sticking the energy labels on the electrical appliances they sell.

The labels must be displayed on goods such as fridges, freezers, washing machines and tumble driers to tell the buyer how much electricity they will consume when they are switched on.

But Lancashire Trading Standards bosses have conducted a survey in which they have found only one in 30 retail premises in the county fully complied with labelling requirements.

More than 20 retailers have been given specific written advice telling them how to improve their labelling procedures.

The survey also discovered that more than a third of Lancashire people are unaware of energy labels and what they are meant to indicate.

County Coun Don Yates, chairman of Lancashire County Council's land, buildings and public protection committee, said: "A quarter of all electricity generated in the UK is consumed in the home, largely be expensive energy guzzling kitchen equipment.

"This is a luxury at a price, a price paid by the environment as well as by standing order.

"Unless the public knows and understands energy labels and retailers clearly display them, this will be another missed opportunity to reduce domestic energy consumption.

" I would call on all Lancashire residents to think about their fuel bills before they simply choose to buy the cheapest machine."

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.