Fire damage related to candles typically costs more than £25,000 to put right, according to data from an insurer, which is urging households to take care over Christmas.

Aviva , which looked at home insurance claims from 2021 to 2024, said that candle-related fires peak in the month of December, with the average claim amounting to more than £25,000.

The insurer said its data indicates that candles are responsible for around 15% of fire claims during the month of December, with chimneys and fireplaces accounting for 6%.

Examples of candle-related claims it has dealt with during the festive season include a candle catching the branch of a Christmas tree, and in another case, a fire spreading in a home due to the foliage of an advent wreath catching fire.

It has also dealt with claims in

See Full Page