A WOMAN has claimed she is living in constant fear her tumble dryer will catch light and burn down her house.

It was confirmed last year a large number of Hotpoint, Indesit and Creda dryers sold in the past 11 years needed modification to make them less prone to fire.

On December 3, retired estate agent Susan Baillee was promised a visit from an engineer to fix her a Hotpoint dryer within eight weeks, as part of a nationwide repair programme. She is still waiting.

Mrs Baillee says she can’t stop worrying about the dryer catching light, damaging her Benfleet home and harming her family.

She admitted: “I don’t stop worrying.

Just knowing this potentially- lethal machine is in my house is horrible.

“The company has told owners not to leave tumble dryers unattended – but what does that mean?

“Do we have to stand there and watch it whenever we use it?”

Mrs Baillee, who lives with her husband and 21-year-old daughter, has accused Whirlpool, the company which owns all three brands, of putting finances before the safety of customers.

She added: “If the company knows they catch fire, then why on earth is it telling people to use them?

“It needs to bite the bullet and take responsibility.”

A Hotpoint spokesman said high demand had meant the repair programme was going to take several months.

While it us under way, the company is offering to sell new dryers to some customers at a discount.

He added: “All consumers are eligible for a free of charge repair.

“For those with a dryer older than a year, we are also offering the option of a brand new replacement machine at less than a third of the recommended retail price.

“The price is a contribution towards the delivery and connection of a new dryer, and the removal and disposal of the old one.”

The spokesman said customers could choose between a vented dryer for £59, or a condenser dryer for £99.