Eccles cake warning issued after spate of fires

A spate of fires on Merseyside have been triggered by Eccles cakes, firefighters have said. The small round pastries have caused at least three blazes in recent weeks after attempts to warm them up went wrong.

Putting the cakes, which are sold ready to eat, in to microwave ovens is causing the sugar on top to catch light. Ovens, kitchen areas and Eccles cakes themselves were damaged in the fires.



Householders were warned never to try to heat an Eccles cake using a microwave, with fears growing they could cause a more serious incident.

Watch manager James Murphy, based at Crosby fire station, said: “The sugar in the Eccles cakes can ignite if cooked for a little too long.” The Crosby station alone has dealt with three incidents directly involving Eccles cakes recently.