Homeowners should make sure that they don't decide to spark up more cigarettes inside their homes in light of the forthcoming July 1st public smoking ban - as they could risk having to make claims on their home insurance policies, says a leading UK organisation.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) says that smokers lighting up within the confines of their own home should take extra care to avoid the fire risk - as smoking causes 3,500 fires in households across the UK every year - resulting in 80 deaths and 1400 injuries on average.

"It is easy to under estimate the dangers of smoking in the home, despite the fact that homes with a smoker are 35 per cent more likely to suffer a fire. Most cigarette-related fires can be avoided by taking that little bid of extra care when lighting up," the ABI's Malcolm Tarling commented.

He said that smokers should make sure that they do not smoke in bed, never leave lit cigarettes unattended and always use a proper ashtray and make sure it cannot be knocked over.

He also advised that all matches and lighters be kept away from children and that cigarettes should be properly stubbed out when finished.