Image copyright PA

A nationwide alert has been issued warning of the dangers of fires caused by exploding e-cigarette chargers.

More than 100 fires have been blamed on the devices over the past two years, according to fire service figures.

The Local Government Association (LGA), representing the 49 fire and rescue authorities in England and Wales, wants e-cigarette manufacturers to display warnings on packaging.

Fire chiefs say many blazes are caused by the wrong chargers being used.

If a charger that is not compatible to the device is used, too much current goes into the batteries, meaning they can overheat and eventually explode.

'Highly disturbing'

More than two million people across the UK are estimated to use e-cigarettes, which deliver vaporised liquid nicotine but do not contain tobacco and do not produce smoke.

Many e-cigarette smokers use incompatible or cheap chargers however, the LGA says.

It is simply not worth risking their lives to save a few pounds by buying dodgy, dangerous or incompatible chargers Jeremy Hilton, Local Government Association

Emergency services received eight call-outs to fires related to e-cigarettes in 2012, according to data from 43 of the 49 fire authorities.

That number rose to over 40 in 2013, and there were more than 60 in 2014.

Cases that have emerged recently include:

A man who died after a charging e-cigarette apparently exploded in Merseyside, igniting oxygen equipment he was using. A coroner later said the explosion was likely to have contributed to his death

A Leicester woman who said her e-cigarette and car charger adaptor exploded while it was recharging

A block of flats being evacuated in Poole because of a fire thought to have been caused by the charging of an e-cigarette

How to safely charge your e-cigarette

Image copyright PA Image caption Many cases of e-cigarette charger fires go unreported, the LGA says

Always use the correct charger and follow the manufacturer's instructions

Never charge a battery that has been damaged, dropped or struck

Never plug a charger into a non-approved mains power transformer

Check your battery has overcharge or overheat protection

Don't overcharge. Remove the battery from charge when complete

Never leave a charging battery unattended

Don't use if wet

Do not overtighten the atomiser when connecting it to the charger

(Source: LGA)

Councillor Jeremy Hilton, chairman of the LGA's fire services management committee, said users should be "vigilant at all times".

"We are warning them that it is simply not worth risking their lives to save a few pounds by buying dodgy, dangerous or incompatible chargers," he said.

There was no way of knowing the true figure of incidents as many ere going unreported, he added.