Tar and soot build-ups are turning flues into fire risks and putting lives at risk, a chimney sweep has warned.

David Coxell, 39, made the warning after he found a chimney in Loughton that could have put the people living in the house in real danger should there have been a fire.

There was a build-up of tar in the chimney which had solidified and stuck to the brick lining.

Mr Coxell, who runs Ashes and Smoke Chimney Sweeping, explained that the build-up of tar or soot over time could make chimneys a real safety concern.

He said: “When burning fuel in a multi-fuel stove, wood burner or open fire, the product of what you burn, be that coal or wood, produces soot, carbon monoxide and an after product which goes up your chimney or your liner.

“If the wood is not the right wood, or wood with a high moisture content and not seasoned that could cause a lot of tar or creosote, which can cause deposits in the long-term.

“What I saw in Loughton was an older house with tar stuck to the wall lining and it was an inherent fire risk.”

He says when it should be swept depends on how you use your fire.

If you use it to heat your home, it should be more often, whereas it is not as pressing if you use it more for aesthetic reasons.

Mr Coxell recommends getting your chimney swept twice a year if you burn smokeless fuels like house coal, whereas wood burning stove should be quarterly when in use.

He added: “It really depends but the more you use it, the more you should get it swept and checked.

“I’d recommend pubs to get it checked really regularly, I do a lot of work in commercial buildings and listed properties.

“Pubs can be used from 11am to 11pm and the offset of that is they’re going to produce a lot more soot with the amount they burn.”

He has this advice for people who use a fire, stove, or wood burner to ensure your house feature does not turn into a death trap.

“You have to ensure you have a carbon monoxide alarm in that room, make sure your chimney regularly swept by a National Association of Chimney Sweeps (NACS) registered sweep and that you burn the correct fuel.

“You need to make sure it’s maintained, especially if you’ve got a multi-fuel stove, ensuring it’s serviced and that the rope and the seal is there as stoves produce more carbon monoxide than open fires.

“Also in terms of general wear and tear, it’s necessary to check that the fire bricks inside the stoves aren’t broken.”